Select Committee on Transport Minutes of Evidence


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.


 
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