8 December 2025
RMT Press Office:
The British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) has been urged to agree a proper funding settlement for the BTP, by rail unions and the TUC in a joint letter.
The warning comes as frontline officer numbers have fallen to unsafe levels amid rising crime across the rail network.
In a joint letter RMT, TUC, Aslef, TSSA and Unite, say years of cuts have pushed BTP officer numbers to “the limits of safe headcount reduction”, with over 500 posts due to disappear by the end of 2025/26 and stations already closed, reducing visibility and frontline capability.
Figures presented to the BTPA show police presence on the railway has fallen by nearly a third since 2009/10, while crime is sharply rising including a 35% increase in violent offences against rail staff last year.
The latest figures reveal:
* A 5.4% rise in overall recorded crime
* A 9% rise in anti-social behaviour requiring immediate or priority response
* A 14% rise in violent offences
* A 12% rise in violence against women and girls
* A 35% rise in violent offences against rail staff since 2022/23
The letter highlights BTP’s own warning that the surge in visibility after the Huntingdon attack was only sustained by 12-hour shifts, overtime and pausing prosecution work – a level Chief Constable has said is “not sustainable for long”.
BTP is facing an £8.5m shortfall in 2025/26 after receiving just 4.6% uplift against the Force’s 9.8% request.
Around 1,000 additional officers are believed to be needed to restore policing levels to historic norms.
Rail unions have criticised proposals indicating a potential settlement of 8%, 5% and then just 1% across three years, saying the final year would force further staff reductions.
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “Cuts to railway policing have gone too far and are putting staff and passengers at an increasing risk of violence.
"The BTP is being left understaffed, overstretched and unable to sustain the policing presence our railways urgently need.
“We need to be serious about a safer railway, and that requires a proper multi-year funding settlement.
"Anything less will leave police numbers falling further, crimes going unanswered and railway workers and the travelling public left to fend for themselves which is unacceptable.”
END
Notes:
Rail unions are calling for the Authority to approve an appropriate three-year settlement at its 10 December meeting and for a wider review of BTP funding to reverse years of cuts and declining police visibility across the network.
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