Conference 2007 - Minister's Speech
BTP FEDERATION CONFERENCE
5 March 2008: York
Message from Minister for Transport, Tom Harris MP
I am so sorry that I cannot be with you to acknowledge the 3 brave deeds being honoured last night or to answer your Chairman's speech this morning. I had been looking forward to both functions and accepted the invitation last year but only found out yesterday lunchtime that I was needed on unavoidable Parliamentary business.
However as second best I hope there is an opportunity for this message to be relayed to you as a condensed version of what I had been planning to say
It was an honour to be invited to present the three bravery awards at last night's dinner. I can't begin to imagine what it might be like to grapple with someone as an express train bears down on you, have your face bitten by a violent suspect or dive into the sea to rescue someone.
I know there are many other incidents of courageous behaviour that we never get to hear of and I know there are many members of the general public who have every reason to be enormously grateful to the officers of the BTP for your dedication and hard work.
If I had been present, I am sure you would have expected me to say something about pay. I can understand that many of you may feel aggrieved about this year's settlement. The Government wants to deliver fair and balanced pay awards that are consistent with the inflation target and are affordable, both for the police service and the taxpayer. The Home Secretary has now written to the Police Negotiating Board asking them to discuss the possibility of a multi-year deal. This should bring more certainty and stability to the pay process.
Pay of course is important. What also concerns me is how you feel valued as a force. I had sight of the Chairman's speech and it suggests that many of you don't think you are valued. This concerns me greatly.
There is absolutely no question that the Department values your contribution to the safe and efficient running of our transport network. That's why we have invested and continue to invest in new equipment, new accommodation and new vehicles.
The Department has also been keen to help find solutions to other issues that really matter to you - the transfer of pensions when you move between BTP and other forces, for example. Officials have identified 3 possible solutions and are busy working these up so I hope we can make real progress this year on a very frustrating and complicated matter.
Passengers and staff need a first class police service for the railways and the BTP is doing a tremendous job. Every one in the force is to be congratulated for their part in helping to meet all of the eleven operational targets for the third year running.
An up and coming challenge for the force will be to ensure that participants and spectators from around the world will be able to enjoy safe transport to and from the Olympic Games. I'm pleased that we have secured an agreement to provide you with additional funding to cover the Games. And we will confirm the budget lines that the force will draw from hopefully this month.
The conviction of David Treharne, the London bomb hoaxer, enhanced the force's unrivalled reputation for effectively minimising the risk and impact of bomb threats to the travelling public. I wanted to see at first hand how officers engage with the travelling public during anti-terrorist searches. So just before Christmas I joined Ian Johnston at Glasgow Central Station. I was very impressed by what I saw and fully support the excellent work the BTP have been doing since the Glasgow Airport attack last July.
There is no doubt in my mind that a visible and effective police force on the network not only deters potential terrorists, but also reassures law-abiding passengers. I cannot agree with those who assert that the level of stop and search activity by the BTP amounts to harassment of passengers. The BTP is there to protect the travelling public and that is what it is doing.
While on the subject of Scotland, although its parliament does have devolved powers on policing, it does not have any powers over the BTP. And I can assure you that there is no appetite in the Department to create a separate Scottish transport police force. Just as I did when there was talk of the Metropolitan Police taking over the London Underground duties of the force, I will reassert your position as the national force for policing the railways, whether it's in Scotland, London or the rest of the country.
And I will continue to defend the integrity and professionalism of BTP officers when, as occurred in Scotland before Christmas, they are attacked for political reasons by Scottish Executive Ministers.
You are a very effective national and specialist force. This is not a weakness, it is your strength and I am really sorry that I cannot be there with you to celebrate another successful year.
