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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Scottish force to police railways | Scottish force to police railways |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Police Scotland will take over railway policing when the function is devolved, Scotland's justice secretary has decided. | Police Scotland will take over railway policing when the function is devolved, Scotland's justice secretary has decided. |
| The move means that the British Transport Police (BTP) will no longer operate as a separate force in Scotland. | The move means that the British Transport Police (BTP) will no longer operate as a separate force in Scotland. |
| BTP wanted to continue providing this service, with oversight by Holyrood instead of Westminster. | BTP wanted to continue providing this service, with oversight by Holyrood instead of Westminster. |
| But Justice Secretary Michael Matheson has decided against that. | But Justice Secretary Michael Matheson has decided against that. |
| He wants the force's Scottish operations and more than 200 officers integrated into Police Scotland. | He wants the force's Scottish operations and more than 200 officers integrated into Police Scotland. |
| In a statement, the Scottish government said: "Police Scotland is responsible for all policing in Scotland outwith the railways and we believe the functions of the British Transport Police should be integrated within the single service. | In a statement, the Scottish government said: "Police Scotland is responsible for all policing in Scotland outwith the railways and we believe the functions of the British Transport Police should be integrated within the single service. |
| "The BTP provide a specialist function that is recognised and valued by the rail industry and its passengers and it is essential that this specialism is maintained within Police Scotland. | "The BTP provide a specialist function that is recognised and valued by the rail industry and its passengers and it is essential that this specialism is maintained within Police Scotland. |
| "This will ensure the most efficient and effective delivery of all policing in Scotland, keeping communities safe and strong". | "This will ensure the most efficient and effective delivery of all policing in Scotland, keeping communities safe and strong". |
| 'Distinctive approach' | 'Distinctive approach' |
| SNP ministers had a high-profile dispute with the British Transport Police over its use of stop and search when they first took office. | SNP ministers had a high-profile dispute with the British Transport Police over its use of stop and search when they first took office. |
| Mr Matheson told the Police Oracle website that railway policing needed to become part of Police Scotland because of the country's "distinctive approach to policing". | Mr Matheson told the Police Oracle website that railway policing needed to become part of Police Scotland because of the country's "distinctive approach to policing". |
| And he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Police reforms have been taking place in Scotland over the last 18 months, moving to the single force. | And he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Police reforms have been taking place in Scotland over the last 18 months, moving to the single force. |
| "It's been the Scottish government's view that this [transport policing] would be better if it was integrated into Police Scotland given that it would sit alongside our national police service. | "It's been the Scottish government's view that this [transport policing] would be better if it was integrated into Police Scotland given that it would sit alongside our national police service. |
| "That's why we believe this would be a better fit for how we are taking policing forward in Scotland." | "That's why we believe this would be a better fit for how we are taking policing forward in Scotland." |
| The Smith Commission on further devolution recommended that policing the railway be devolved and this was included in draft legislation drawn up by the UK government. | The Smith Commission on further devolution recommended that policing the railway be devolved and this was included in draft legislation drawn up by the UK government. |
| This is expected to become law after the general election and the BTP could become part of Police Scotland by the end of 2016. | This is expected to become law after the general election and the BTP could become part of Police Scotland by the end of 2016. |
| A UK Department for Transport spokesman said: "How rail transport is policed in Scotland will be a matter for Scotland once the legislation is passed." | A UK Department for Transport spokesman said: "How rail transport is policed in Scotland will be a matter for Scotland once the legislation is passed." |
| Labour MP Tom Harris was the minister responsible for the British Transport Police in 2007-08. | Labour MP Tom Harris was the minister responsible for the British Transport Police in 2007-08. |
| "BTP is a long-standing and effective police force" he said. | "BTP is a long-standing and effective police force" he said. |
| "It will be sad to see it merged with Police Scotland as part of a further centralisation of services. | "It will be sad to see it merged with Police Scotland as part of a further centralisation of services. |
| "This move is premature. No-one has been consulted - neither the travelling public nor the police officers themselves. A hasty decision today could put at jeopardy the safety of the travelling public tomorrow." | "This move is premature. No-one has been consulted - neither the travelling public nor the police officers themselves. A hasty decision today could put at jeopardy the safety of the travelling public tomorrow." |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "Some people have argued that the Scottish Parliament should choose to keep the force as one single entity across the UK instead of integrating into Police Scotland. | Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "Some people have argued that the Scottish Parliament should choose to keep the force as one single entity across the UK instead of integrating into Police Scotland. |
| "I think that is worthy of consideration. We need to have that debate. We need to consider this carefully rather than deciding now what the structure should be." | "I think that is worthy of consideration. We need to have that debate. We need to consider this carefully rather than deciding now what the structure should be." |
| Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Alex Johnstone said: "People will look at this move and think the SNP is again using Police Scotland to make a political point. | |
| "The British Transport Police are hugely respected and valued by passengers. One of their key duties is policing cross-border services, but now they will have to get off the train before Scotland and be replaced by officers from the single force. | |
| Mr Johnstone added: "I think the public will be concerned by yet more centralising by the Scottish government." | |
| Previous discussions | Previous discussions |
| BTP has 231 officers in Scotland according to the BTP federation website and a network of 11 offices within major railway stations. | BTP has 231 officers in Scotland according to the BTP federation website and a network of 11 offices within major railway stations. |
| It is dwarfed by Police Scotland which is the largest force in the UK outside London, with more than 17,000 officers. | It is dwarfed by Police Scotland which is the largest force in the UK outside London, with more than 17,000 officers. |
| Under one possible model, BTP could become the Scottish Transport Police division of Police Scotland. | Under one possible model, BTP could become the Scottish Transport Police division of Police Scotland. |
| The Scottish Police Authority, which oversees the work of Police Scotland, said it had already started discussions with the BTP. | The Scottish Police Authority, which oversees the work of Police Scotland, said it had already started discussions with the BTP. |
| BTP and its governing body are due to meet to consider their response to the Scottish government's plan. | BTP and its governing body are due to meet to consider their response to the Scottish government's plan. |
| The cross-border force is worried that losing its Scottish division could lead to the break-up of the entire force. | The cross-border force is worried that losing its Scottish division could lead to the break-up of the entire force. |
| There have been previous discussions about the Metropolitan Police taking over railway policing in London. | There have been previous discussions about the Metropolitan Police taking over railway policing in London. |
| BTP is not the only police force operating in Scotland alongside Police Scotland. | BTP is not the only police force operating in Scotland alongside Police Scotland. |
| The MOD police and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary will continue to protect key sites. | The MOD police and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary will continue to protect key sites. |