Having given last month’s blog spot to our conduct and performance lead (do read the post on the new Vetting Regulations, if you haven’t already), I’m back with the regular round-up of updates on the work we have been doing on your behalf.
Allowances
Starting with some external news, and while I’m reluctant to discuss forces out with our own, it is deeply disappointing to see Kent Police reducing the Southeast Allowance by £250, particularly at a time when so many officers are feeling the strain of rising living costs. We are currently in discussion with our own force to understand whether they intend to follow suit, but we have been clear in stressing the significant cost of living challenges our members face.
Those in a privileged position may not fully understand that £250 goes a long way for officers who are struggling. We are strongly urging the force to maintain this allowance in full and to recognise the vital support it provides to officers and their families.
I’m aware that we have many challenges with allowances. The difficult conversations that are happening around regional allowances are not lost on this Federation. Processes need to be consistent, and decisions should avoid compounding officers’ financial burdens.
PRRB Submission
Staying with pay matters, it is disappointing that we were not afforded the courtesy of prior sight of PFEW’s submission to the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) this year, particularly given the significant implications such decisions have for our members. For those of you who are relatively new to BTP, we have pay parity with Home Office forces, but unlike PFEW, the BTP Federation is not invited to submit evidence to inform PRRB’s recommendations.
We await the outcome of the PRRB process with interest, but it is important to recognise that decisions on pay and conditions directly affect morale and will inevitably influence whether officers choose to remain within policing or seek alternative employment. Officers deserve a fair pay award and appropriate terms and conditions that acknowledge and reflect the pressures they endure every day.
I believe it is essential that the BTPF is able to make its own submission to the PRRB, and although my previous requests for this have not been taken up, I will be writing to them again to press for the opportunity to contribute directly on behalf of our members.
FOI on Free Rail Travel
Another matter that hasn’t yet been resolved is that of free rail travel for BTP officers. By way of a recap, despite policing the rail network, BTP officers do not universally receive free rail travel. In contrast, officers from other police forces, and indeed rail staff, do receive free and discounted rail travel in some areas of the country.
This fact was shared by our Chief Constable during a meeting of the Transport Select Committee back in 2024, and it came as a surprise to committee members. The then Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, undertook to look into the matter, and we have continued to raise it since then.
With updates thin on the ground, we submitted a Freedom of Information Act request in November. The information we requested was denied, so we requested a review. The review also declined our request on the basis that “Proposals related to the request are still under consideration. Decision makers would not be able to work effectively if information related to potential proposals were released pre-empting both a decision and any communication of that decision.”
So, while this outcome was disappointing, the response suggests the matter of free rail travel for BTP officers is still being considered. We have a meeting with the current rail minister, Lord Hendy, next month and will make further representations to him on this subject.
National Negotiating Meeting (NNM)
I’m keen to use this blog to update you on what is being tabled at the strategic meetings we attend with the force, so I will start with the National Negotiating Meeting (NNM). At our latest meeting, we were given the opportunity to discuss matters such as secondment/attachment to Police Scotland custody, the Machinery of Negotiation process with the force and Authority, and the ongoing discussion around the substance misuse policy.
Substance Misuse Policy – Failure to agree
This Federation has been in a long‑running Failure to Agree with the Force over the Substance Misuse Policy, specifically the treatment of random, drug testing for officers appointed and contracted before 2020. As drug testing was not a contractual requirement for these officers, we maintain that they are entitled to refuse a random test - particularly where there is no intelligence, suspicion, or cause to justify it - without facing disciplinary action.
We fully support cause‑based testing and officers who choose to consent, but we cannot accept a disciplinary threat attached to a process that is, by definition, voluntary for this group.
We have obtained independent legal advice from King's Counsel and shared this with BTPA. We continue to wait for them to move forward on the implementation of the dispute resolution procedures so we can conclude this Failure to Agree. We remain ready to engage, but the delay in securing independent oversight is preventing a timely resolution.
Secondment Policy – BTP Sergeants Seconded to Police Scotland
We are also continuing to work to resolve the ongoing dispute with the force regarding the pay arrangements for BTP Sergeants seconded to Police Scotland custody suites. Under the secondment policy in place at the time, secondees should receive pay comparable to that of the substantive postholder where there is a difference. Despite this, BTP Sergeants have not been compensated in line with their Police Scotland Sergeant counterparts.
While seconded, BTP Sergeants are carrying out exactly the same duties as Police Scotland Sergeants. They work side by side, conduct handovers with Police Scotland colleagues, and take full responsibility for individuals in custody. This includes managing identical operational risks and making the same decisions around authorisations, detainee care, and disposal.
Given the clear requirement within the secondment policy and the full equivalence of duties being undertaken, we are continuing to press the force for a fair resolution. We are hoping for a final outcome soon, at which point we will consider the appropriate next steps.
PSD Monthly Meeting
We recently held our monthly meeting with PSD, during which we discussed several important issues, including the timeliness of investigations. It was encouraging to hear that the Head of PSD shares our commitment to achieving more efficient investigative time frames, and I am grateful for his willingness to work closely with the Federation as we prepare to submit a proposal we believe can support meaningful improvement in this area.
We also reiterated the importance of supervisors feeling empowered by the force to deal with appropriate matters locally, rather than defaulting to referring everything directly to PSD. Unnecessary referrals can create avoidable backlogs, particularly when issues could be resolved swiftly and proportionately at a local level. We are keen to work collaboratively with the force to ensure supervisors have the confidence, clarity, and support they need to manage such matters effectively.
Upcoming Meetings
Looking ahead, the next four weeks or so are a busy time for the Federation in terms of meetings. They are all important in their own way in assisting us to put the Federation in as strong and supportive a position as possible. I shall update you all in the next blog around upcoming meetings with the IOPC, an in-person meeting with the rail minister Lord Hendy, and the tripartite meeting with the other national and non-Home Office Federations. I am also looking forward to reporting back from our divisional reps’ first in-person meeting with BTP’s new DCC, Stuart Cundy.
Welcome, Tricia Hayes
Talking about people in new roles, we’re really pleased to welcome Tricia Hayes into her role as Chair of the British Transport Police Authority. Everyone at the BTP Federation is looking forward to getting to know Tricia and working closely together.
It’s a challenging time for us within BTP, and we’re keen to build a positive, open relationship as we continue supporting our officers and the wider policing family. We’re confident that, with Tricia’s leadership, we can achieve a lot together for our members who work so hard to keep the railways safe every day.
We know that we may not always agree with the Authority, but our lines of communication will always be open to Tricia.
Welfare Vehicle
On to welfare matters, and our colleagues in the north may have seen the welfare vehicle during its recent visits to Newcastle and York, and at events, including in North Wales. Some of these visits have been timed to coincide with wellbeing events organised by BTP’s wellbeing team, but the vehicle has also been booked for football fixtures and multi-force events.
We’re expecting the summer months to be especially busy, so if there is an upcoming event or activity that you would like the Federation welfare vehicle to attend, please speak to your local Federation Reps. They can complete a request form and consider the logistics of moving the vehicle between locations.
There’s more information on the welfare vehicle, its purpose and what it offers on our website.
Group Insurance Scheme
The Federation Group Insurance Scheme remains one of the most important and valuable benefits available to our members, providing essential protection at a time when unforeseen challenges can arise at any point.
As well as the types of cover you will be familiar with (travel insurance and gadget cover, for example), the scheme offers other important elements such as off‑duty legal cover of up to £20,000. This gives officers the peace of mind that they have robust support should they ever face a situation requiring legal assistance.
None of us wants to imagine being in such a position, but the reality is that it does happen. When it does, having the right cover in place is vital. The question I would politely ask is, can you afford not to be in the scheme?
The Group Insurance Scheme offers:
Life Assurance (£130,000)
Personal Accident Benefits
Critical Illness Cover (£10,000) including RedArc
Regulation 28 Sickness Benefits
GP Care on Demand
Care First Counselling Service
Legal expenses insurance
Worldwide Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
RAC Motor Breakdown Assistance
Mobile Phone/Gadget Insurance
Cyber SOS
There’s more information on the scheme, including how you can sign up, in this dedicated area of our website.
I hope that you have found this blog useful, and as always, if you have any queries or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out at info@btpfed.co.uk
Stuart Cowan, Chair of BTP Federation