Two British Transport Police officers stood on the platform of a railway station in the UK next to the tracks talking to a young teenage girl wearing a red jacket and black leggings.

POLICING RESTRICTIONS

Ask the government to protect children at risk on the rail network

The British Transport Police’s recent funding shortfall could put young people at risk on the railways. Ask your MP to ensure no child is left behind as a result.

Home > Take action to protect funding for BTP’s vital services

British Transport Police reductions underway

Recently, the British Transport Police (BTP) announced that huge reductions were under discussion, due to a budget shortfall.

Alongside unions like the TSSA and RMT, we’ve shared our concern that this could lead to station closures, fewer police officers, and longer response times, which could impact the safety of both rail staff and the public.

These reductions are particularly worrying because dangers on the railway are growing. Last year, the number of assaults and instances of harassment on the railways hit a record 9,542*. Sexual offences are on the rise too – they’ve gone up by more than a third over the last 10 years.**

How you can help

We need your help to ensure that vulnerable children aren’t left behind. Ask your MP to ensure that any policing restrictions don’t come at a cost to young people’s safety on the railway.

Use the section below to find your MP’s contact details and copy paste the email template into a new email addressed to them. Then simply fill the blanks with your and your MP’s details.

What does the British Transport Police do?

BTP play a crucial role keeping all passengers on the rail network safe, specifically by:

Protecting and safeguarding children
Tackling exploitation and County Lines activity
Keeping vulnerable adults safe
Responding to incidents and intervening

How did the British Transport Police funding shortfall happen?

Unlike other police departments, BTP isn’t publicly funded – most of its funding comes from a levy paid by Train Operating Companies. The amount for this levy is set by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). Recently, the BTPA approved a lower funding increase than BTP had requested (4.6% instead of 9.8%), which has led to a shortfall of about £8.5 million. The settlement equates to a significant real-terms reduction in funding, with consequent impacts on BTP staffing and service delivery.

A teenage girl stood next to some bikes parked at a station talking to a female British Transport Police officer.

Children at risk of exploitation

Each year, 11,000 vulnerable young people are reported to BTP on the rail network.***

Alone at train stations and across the network, they’re at risk of harms like violence, grooming and exploitation from County Lines Gangs.

How gangs target children

Railway Children works closely with the transport sector and the BTP to make the railways safer for young people. BTP refer vulnerable young people to us, and our youth practitioners offer them tailored, personalised support, giving them the tools they need to get their lives on the right track.

Our work in the UK