Examination of Witness (Questions 33-39)
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
ALAN BROWN
26 APRIL 2006
Q33 Chairman: Good afternoon, Assistant
Commissioner.
Assistant Commissioner Brown:
Good afternoon, Chairman. Can I start by offering the Commissioner's
apologies as he is unable to be here due to the fact that he is
on holiday at the moment and he is not expected back until much
later this evening. I am afraid that I am here to represent him.
Q34 Chairman: Do not be afraid. We
will be very gentle! Just tell us officially who you are.
Assistant Commissioner Brown:
I am Alan Brown. I am Assistant Commissioner with the Metropolitan
Police, with responsibility for professional standards and outward
looking affairs.
Q35 Chairman: Is the British Transport
Police, as structured, fit for its purpose?
Assistant Commissioner Brown:
Before I answer that question I would welcome the opportunity
just to make a short statement.
Q36 Chairman: Please do. That would
be helpful. I should have asked you. I beg your pardon.
Assistant Commissioner Brown:
First of all, the Metropolitan Police Service's position in relation
to the British Transport Police should not be seen as predatory.
The MPS holds the British Transport Police in respect both as
a policing agency and as a partner agency. However, our position
is driven by providing the best policing response for the people
of London, be they the people who live, work and travel to London
or indeed have businesses which enable that to take place. Both
train and tube stations play an important role in many of London's
communities. They impact upon the surrounding environment, not
just on the confines of the station. The safety of stations and
transport hubs play an important part in how Londoners feel about
their safety and security. We believe there is a clear expectation
from the public that the policing of all aspects of London will
be carried out in a way that provides them with confidence and
in a way that is not hampered by organisational boundaries nor
variation in capability, and it is on that basis that the MPS
sees significant advantage in amalgamating with a part of the
British Transport Police which has responsibility for the policing
of the Underground the over ground rail systems within the Metropolitan
Police area and including the Croydon Tram Link. We would wish
to see a seamless link between rail transport policing in the
communities of London, acknowledging that those who commit offences
against the railway property are likely to live in local communities
whilst those who commit offences against the customers of the
train operating companies within the London area will also predominantly
come from within London communities. The need to create a hostile
environment for the offender would be more comprehensibly achieved
if there was one intelligence and tasking system. In relation
to the investigation of serious crime, there is a compelling case
to ensure that there is capability to respond either reactively
or proactively in a timely fashion. Her Majesty's Inspectorate
of Constabulary's assessment of the MPS in regard to the investigation
of major and serious crime is excellent as is their ability to
tackle Level 2 crime. Amalgamating the London British Transport
Police area into the MPS would enable those same standards to
be applied across the rail network in London. As London approaches
2012 and the Olympic Games it has been acknowledged that transport
will be one of the factors that determines if London will host
a successful Games. Security on the transport system will be seen
as an important subject in ensuring the effectiveness of that
system. A single force command structure will allow for improved
Olympic policing by providing that seamless link between rail,
marine, road, territorial and stadium policing and the counter-terrorist
aspects that would pervade all of those issues. It will enable
a single intelligence and communications system and it will enable
the MPS expertise in dealing with the movement of large crowds
to be seamlessly engaged. The Security Director of the Olympics
is a serving Metropolitan Police Service Assistant Commissioner.
In providing confidence to the train operating companies we would
point to the policing of roads in London, which was again assessed
as excellent by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, and
the partnership that the MPS has with Transport for London. In
working in partnership with TfL to a special service agreement
delivery standards are achieved which improve customer confidence
whilst having a focus on prosecuting those who attack staff and
make it unpleasant to travel on the buses. Of particular interest
here is the deployment of PCSOs providing high visibility support,
generating confidence and reassurance to both passengers and staff.
I would also just like to draw a couple of other issues to your
attention, one of which is what is the official Association of
Chief Police Officers' position and the Home Secretary's position
in relation to the creation of strategic forces. This is a quote
from the Home Secretary in a letter to the Association of Police
Authorities.
Q37 Chairman: I am going to be very
boring. Perhaps we will ask the questions and you will give us
the answers because we have a Home Office Minister who I am sure
will be really excellent in answering for them. It is rather interesting
that you emphasise Level 2 crime. Do you accept that most of British
transport policing is Level 1 crime?
Assistant Commissioner Brown:
I would not stress the importance of Level 2 crime over anti-social
behaviour.
Q38 Chairman: But you did quote it
and it is one of the things that you prayed in aid.
Assistant Commissioner Brown:
I did quote it and pray it in aid primarily because of the ability
of the Metropolitan Police to respond and provide a service that
I would suggest is not currently capable of being supplied by
the British Transport Police.
Q39 Chairman: Was there a problem
in July? Were you not able to work together? Was there some problem
that arose?
Assistant Commissioner Brown:
I was the officer in charge of the response for 7 July.
| 
