No to proposals on British Transport Police Scottish Closure

Rail union RMT has condemned proposals from Michael Matheson, the SNP Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Justice to shut down the British Transport Police and merge it into Police Scotland when functions are devolved.

The move would mean that the British Transport Police (BTP) will no longer operate as a separate force in Scotland – losing the specialist skills and identity that have been built up over many years.

BTP themselves have made it clear that they wanted to continue providing this service, with oversight by Holyrood instead of Westminster, but the SNP Government have ridden roughshod over that specialist advice and are pressing ahead with plans to close the force's Scottish operations with more than 200 officers integrated into Police Scotland.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

“It is sheer arrogance on the part of the SNP Government that they are ignoring the advice of the BTP and those who work in the railway industry and are forging ahead with plans to merge this important and distinctive policing operation into the wider force.

“Skills and expertise in dealing with the specialist policing needs on the railways would be lost for ever and would result in an inferior policing service which would impact on staff and passengers alike. RMT stands alongside our sister rail unions in opposing these ill-conceived and dangerous plans.”