Underground Security: The British Transport Police

Keeping the underground safe and secure. Photo: British Transport Police

Getting close under the Kissing Tree in Covent Garden. Drinking mulled wine at the Cologne Christmas market along the South Bank. Gift-hunting along Oxford Street. And the tube home.

Thousands of people will use the tube during December, but few will think twice about who’s watching them. With more drinks flowing, and more shopping bags to carry, it’s little wonder that the crime rate on the Underground rises during the festive season. But tackling thieves and drunks are around 700 British Transport Police Officers, touring the trains and stations to make sure people aren’t causing trouble, or in trouble.

Inspector Gadget

One of their team is PC Matthew Shepherd, who has been with BTP for three years. He is kitted up with more tools than Inspector Gadget when we meet on a chilly Friday night at Finsbury Park station. His chest is littered with notebooks and a digital radio, masking his stab-proof vest. A strong belt carries a baton, handcuffs, and the pepper spray he has never used.

Even without the high-vis layer and traditional policeman’s hat, a BTP officer is a striking figure. Visibility is a key part of Matthew’s job: some suspicious people see him in a station and walk the other way. His presence along the Piccadilly line acts as a deterrent, and reassures people that the underground is safe. The tube is a low crime area, although over the 2009/2010 year over 6,000 thefts were reported on the tube and DLR.

The more mundane parts of the job include stopping people jumping ticket barriers and dealing with incapable drunk people, but BTP officers also deal with mental health issues, and organised pick-pocketers. “There’s no average shift. I enjoy the variety, and the possibility,” Matthew said.

Reaching Out

He also works with the Metropolitan Police on big events such as football matches or concerts, and neighbourhood policing schemes. Above ground, the team runs monthly station surgeries, where residents and passengers can voice their concerns. In November they visited the Metropolitan University to talk to freshers about staying safe on the trains; the complicated tube system means that newcomers are easily spotted and targeted by thieves.

Customer Service is a big part of the Transport Police's role. Photo: British Transport Police

The BTP have a team dedicated to tackling theft, and use monthly crime stats to flag up problem areas on the tube network. At Holloway Road tube, Matthew and his colleagues disperse, working alone to be more approachable. Matthew is quick to ask a confused-looking man if he’s OK and answer his questions; “It’s the ultimate customer service job,” he says.

The team spends 85 per cent of their time on patrol, and inevitably build up strong relationships with the Underground staff. Matthew waves to each passing train driver, and answers passenger queries on this quiet night. But soon the throngs will arrive with their parcels and party plans, and Matthew and his team will be there to keep them safe. As the calendar ticks over to 2011, they will still be there, perhaps catching a glimpse of the fireworks. “That’s a bonus,” Matthew hopes for.

How to be Tubewise:

• Avoid travelling alone.
• Know your route before you travel.
• Be aware of your surroundings; try not to miss your stop.
• Use a bag with a zip; this is a big deterrent for thieves.
• Move carriage if you feel uncomfortable.
• If you do encounter a problem, alert staff or go to a help point, which connects you directly to the BTP control room.
• If you are a victim of theft, cancel your bank cards immediately.

PC Matthew Shepherd and Rosie Scammell got in touch through Harringay Online:  www.harringayonline.com

To get in touch with Matthew’s team, please e-mail: piccadillylinenorth.npt@btp.pnn.police.uk

To report a crime, or for general enquiries, call the BTP on: 0800 40 50 40

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