Rail Unions Call for Proper Funding as BTP Officer Numbers Fall
Rail unions and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have called on the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) to agree a proper funding settlement for the British Transport Police (BTP), warning that frontline officer numbers have fallen to unsafe levels amid rising crime on the rail network.
In a joint letter, RMT, TUC, Aslef, TSSA, and Unite said years of budget cuts have pushed BTP officer numbers “to the limits of safe headcount reduction,” with more than 500 posts set to disappear by the end of 2025/26. They warned that station closures have already reduced visibility and frontline capability.
Figures presented to the BTPA show that police presence on the railway has fallen by nearly a third since 2009/10, while crime has risen sharply. Violent offences against rail staff increased by 35% last year. Other recent trends include:
A 5.4% rise in overall recorded crime
A 9% rise in anti-social behaviour requiring immediate or priority response
A 14% rise in violent offences
A 12% rise in violence against women and girls
The letter highlights warnings from BTP itself that the increased visibility following the Huntingdon attack was only sustained through 12-hour shifts, overtime, and pausing prosecution work – a level the Chief Constable has said is “not sustainable for long.”
BTP is facing an £8.5 million shortfall in 2025/26 after receiving just a 4.6% uplift against the Force’s requested 9.8%. Rail unions estimate that around 1,000 additional officers would be needed to restore policing levels to historic norms.
Proposals indicating a potential settlement of 8%, 5%, and 1% across three years have been criticised, with unions warning that the final year would force further staff reductions.
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said:
“Cuts to railway policing have gone too far and are putting staff and passengers at an increasing risk of violence. The BTP is being left understaffed, overstretched and unable to sustain the policing presence our railways urgently need. We need to be serious about a safer railway, and that requires a proper multi-year funding settlement. Anything less will leave police numbers falling further, crimes going unanswered and railway workers and the travelling public left to fend for themselves which is unacceptable.”
Image: British Transport Police