BTP - Any enforcement on roads?

[JakeRS]

As in the title, I've seen a few BTP cars/vans (and even motorcycles, but they just nodded/waved at me) on the roads, and they've made me slow down a bit, but I was just wondering if they actually have any enforcement on the roads or not?

Or is it just the trains etc?

[Foey]

OK i'm thick but what are BTP. :?

[sharriso74]

British Transport Police

[Viney]

The british transport police. I have always wondered the same.

[northwind]

British Transport Police I think. I'm pretty sure they don't, but not sure enough to wheelie past them at 100mph ;)

[kciN]

OK i'm thick but what are BTP. :?

Join the club! (I knew someone else would ask)!! :wink:

[Spiderman]

i was chatting to a BTP bike cop in soho a few months back. I wondered the same thing. Turns out that they are just as entitled as Met Police (or any force) to fight crime.

If he saw a handbag getting snatched it would be his duty to chase the robber. Weather on the street or in the tube. Its just that they are assigned to the transport unit is all. He did say most would just turn a blind eye to road offences as its up to Traffic to deal with that, but if he saw something really out of order he would do his job as a cop and eal with it.


I would imagine most of their vehicles dont have speed detection devices on board due to this too. So youre fairly safe :wink:

[Foey]

British Transport Police



OK , thanks for that, never seen any though, mind you i don't get out much.

[Rob S (Yella)]

They are fully trained police personel who happen to specialise in policing the public transport systems so get extra training with regards to PTS etc.

They have all the powers of arrest as any other police officer.

[wyrdness]

i was chatting to a BTP bike cop in soho a few months back.

What do they need bike cops for? Chasing trains?

[Razor]

Do we really need another TLA ?

[the_runt69]

What do they need bike cops for? Chasing trains?

To get from one aprt of London to another in a hurry as the Vans do get bogged down in rush hour traffic. BTP are separate to the met and other forces and only work on the trains and tubesm very rarely getting involves with buses which the civils deal with, as with any officer is able to arrest outside of the transport system but dont have any specialist traffic units so cant really catch you speeding unless doing something ridiculus.
Deal with them a lot as I'm a senior manager at a train company and I know they're regarded as mickey mouse cops by the civils although most of them are quite good blokes (and girls)

H

[JakeRS]

i was chatting to a BTP bike cop in soho a few months back.

What do they need bike cops for? Chasing trains?


Thats what I was wondering, and why did they have 4 in Ashford lol... brand spankers as well by the looks of things...

Ok so thats sorted, they're not likely to chase me down for a small numberplate and noisy can while I'm doing slightly excessive speed...

Now how about the Highways people? Any speed checkers on their vehicles?

[Spiderman]

i was chatting to a BTP bike cop in soho a few months back.

What do they need bike cops for? Chasing trains?


Thats what I was wondering, and why did they have 4 in Ashford lol... brand spankers as well by the looks of things...

Ok so thats sorted, they're not likely to chase me down for a small numberplate and noisy can while I'm doing slightly excessive speed...

Now how about the Highways people? Any speed checkers on their vehicles?

Seems not. They are just there to assist real cops by taking the boring work off them. ie sweping debris up and directing traffic etc etc but no speed enforcement.

Also the BTP bike guy told me why they need bikes. I was as curious as you lot tbh. So heres the sp.
if the CCTV operators see something happen on the tube network, like a mugging or fight and the perps get on a train then they can radio the train to go slow or even stop in a tunnel to allow time for the bike cops to get to the next station and catch the feckers as they get off the train. So quite a sensible idea i guess.

[stewboy]

they only work within a mile radious of a train or tube station they have the same powers but cant do you for driving offences ....... un less you drive a trian :lol: