10 December 2025
RMT Press Office:
RMT has slammed today’s decision by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) to back a three-year funding deal that will leave BTP facing frontline cuts and creating a less safe railway.
BTP made clear in the meeting that the third-year settlement creates a £2 million hole in its budget and would force reductions in headcount, mainly in frontline roles.
When BTP ran visible evening patrols at Kings Cross and St Pancras for three weeks in autumn 2025, staff assaults dropped by 59%, violence by 21%, public-order incidents by 41% and shoplifting by 25%.
Rail unions and the TUC wrote to all Authority members ahead of the meeting, warning that any further loss of headcount would be unacceptable.
While the first two years of the settlement allow BTP to recruit after more than 500 posts were lost this year, the year-three cut threatens to undo that work.
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “The decision today was the responsibility of ministers and builds in cuts to jobs as part of the funding package, putting the safety of rail workers and passengers at risk.
“You cannot rebuild police numbers in years one and two only to slash them again in year three. It is very reckless and undermines safety.
“By 2028/29, Great British Railways will be up and running and delivering savings through nationalisation.
“RMT is calling on the Secretary of State to urgently review the 2028/29 settlement so BTP can plan with certainty and keep a visible police presence on the network as crime continues to rise.
“We call on the British Transport Police Authority to guarantee no headcount cuts.”
END
Unity House
Tel: 020 7387 4771
Email: