British Transport Police Federation makes an urgent call for a review of BTPs funding

Following a mass stabbing event on a train in Cambridgeshire and the partial derailment of a train in Cumbria in recent days, the British Transport Police Federation has issued a stark warning: chronic under-funding is undermining the ability of officers to respond to incidents and protect the public. 

BTP Federation is calling for:

• Immediate action
• Adequate, sustained funding
• Safe and realistic officer-to-rail user ratios
• Investment in training, equipment, and wellbeing
• A clear and honest conversation about demand vs resource 

Chair of BTP Federation, Stuart Cowan, said: “The response to these recent events was swift and professional, but the demands on BTP have outstripped the funding provided. BTP cannot continue to respond to high-risk incidents with the resources it has currently, only to be told to do more with less again tomorrow.” 

Last year, BTP requested a 9.8% increase in funding. The British Transport Police Authority authorised just 4.6%, leaving an immediate £8.5 million funding gap and no growth to meet demand. This is not just a budget issue; it’s a public safety issue. 

Crime on the railway is rising, including violence against women and girls. Meanwhile, BTP has not been funded to its gross establishment since 2019, forcing extended vacancies and eroding operational resilience. 

The Force’s 2024/25 proposal was designed to maintain performance against crime demand without sacrificing disruption response. It was rejected. To meet the current settlement, BTP has frozen recruitment and cut posts. The workforce has reduced by 2.2%, and 13 stations have been closed. 

The knock-on effect? Fewer officers available, investigations delayed, safeguarding missed, and public contact abandoned. 

As BTP struggles to maintain visibility and response capacity, train operating companies are increasingly turning to private security firms. While these may offer some deterrent, they are in no way a replacement for trained police officers with investigative powers and safeguarding responsibilities. 

Passengers and rail staff deserve more than outsourced deterrents. They deserve a properly funded police service dedicated to keeping the rail network safe. 

It is deeply concerning that, in the context of this year’s real-terms funding cut, the BTP Federation understands that the British Transport Police Authority is asking for further reductions. 

The expectation to deliver even more cuts, despite not having the numbers it needs and amid mounting operational pressures, must be resisted. 

Politicians, passengers, rail staff and the public must unite and let the British Transport Police Authority know what they think of this – it is a step too far and cannot stand. Enough is enough. 

Stuart Cowan concluded: “Public spending is too often seen as a cost to be cut. But the current level of resources is putting rail users, rail staff and my own colleagues at risk. The answer isn’t fewer officers covering more ground. The answer isn’t private security. The answer is properly funding the police service that’s dedicated to keeping the rail network safe.”