Editing British Transport Police (section)

=== Specialist units ===
[[File:Acton Works MMB 06 Emergency Response Unit.jpg|thumb|Prior to the implementation of blue lights and 'POLICE' livery, the vehicles were fitted with red and amber lights.]]

==== Emergency Response Unit ====
A partnership between [[Transport for London]] (TfL) and BTP led to the formation of the ERU. The unit carries TfL engineers to incidents on the [[London Underground]], such as [[one under]] accidents and terrorist incidents. The vehicles are driven by BTP officers, so once at the scene the officer performs regular policing duties in relation to any crime or public safety issues. The use of the blue lights on the unit's vehicles is subject to the same criteria as with any other police vehicle<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2012/february/incident-response-on-the-tube-to-be-boosted-under-blue-light-trial |title=Incident response on the Tube to be boosted under 'Blue Light' trial |date=9 February 2012|publisher=[[Transport for London]]|access-date=11 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/blue-light-for-tube-emergency-teams-6699361.html |title=Blue light for Tube emergency teams |last=Woodham|first=Peter|date=9 February 2012|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|access-date=11 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16961185 |title=BTP's rapid response vehicles get 'bluelights'|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=11 September 2015}}</ref> In December 2013, TfL announced that the trial of blue lights had ended, and that ERU vehicles would retain blue lights, as BTP drivers had halved the unit's response time to incidents.<ref name="medics">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-25406764|title=Tube medic team cut after 'less conclusive' pilot - BBC News|date=16 December 2013|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=11 September 2015}}</ref> Some vehicles within the unit are dual liveried, allowing TfL engineers to operate the vehicles without a police driver. On these, 'police' branding can be removed and the vehicles returned to the 'emergency' branding utilised prior to the trial, with engineers utilising amber and red lighting as opposed to blue.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}
[[File:BTP ERU B88 on Scene of Security Alert.jpg|thumb|BTP ERU in police livery, on Scene of Security Alert]]

==== Emergency Intervention Unit ====
Similar schemes have been implemented elsewhere in the country, including a partnership with Network Rail and [[South West Trains]] (SWT) in which a BTP officer crews an "Emergency Intervention Unit", which conveys engineers and equipment to incidents on SWT's network using blue lights.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2013/mar/Emergency-vehicle-for-faster-response-to-railway-incidents/|title=Emergency vehicle for faster response to railway incidents|date=19 March 2013|publisher=[[Network Rail]]|access-date=11 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018074340/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2013/mar/Emergency-vehicle-for-faster-response-to-railway-incidents/|archive-date=18 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The scheme won the "passenger safety" category at the UK Rail Industry Awards in 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.btp.police.uk/latest_news/prestigious_national_award_win.aspx|title=Prestigious national award win|date=24 February 2015|publisher=British Transport Police|access-date=11 September 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919094803/http://www.btp.police.uk/latest_news/prestigious_national_award_win.aspx|archive-date=19 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Railway-safety-and-crime/Page-7/police-and-engineer-partnership-to-cut-delays|title=Police and engineer partnership to cut delays|date=19 March 2013|work=Rail Technology Magazine|access-date=11 September 2015}}</ref> Another "Emergency Response Unit" was established in partnership with Network Rail in the Glasgow area in the run-up to the [[2014 Commonwealth Games]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.btp.police.uk/latest_news/local_news_scotland/joint_response_unit_launched.aspx|title=Joint Emergency Response Unit launched in Scotland|date=31 July 2014|publisher=British Transport Police|access-date=12 September 2015}}</ref>

==== Medic Response Unit ====
In May 2012, the BTP formed the Medic Response Unit to respond to medical incidents on the London Underground network, primarily to reduce disruption to the network during the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. The scheme was initially for a 12-month trial, and consisted of 20 police officers (18 police constables and two sergeants) and two dedicated fast-response cars. The officers attached to the unit each undertook a four-week course in pre-hospital care, funded by TfL. TfL estimated that around one third of delays on the London Underground were caused by "passenger incidents", of which the majority related to medical problems with passengers; the purpose of the unit is to provide a faster response to medical incidents, providing treatment at the scene with the aim of reducing disruption to the network.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18145265|title=Medically trained police officers to patrol Tube network|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=11 September 2015}}</ref> The unit also aims to assist passengers who may be distressed after being trapped on trains while an incident at a station is resolved. Its training and equipment is the same as that of the [[London Ambulance Service]] in order to ensure smooth hand-overs of patients.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2012/may/medically-trained-btp-officers-deployed-on-the-tube|title=Medically trained BTP officers deployed on the Tube - Transport for London|date=21 May 2012|publisher=[[Transport for London]]|access-date=11 September 2015}}</ref> At the end of the trial period, in October 2013, the unit was reduced to eight officers; the other twelve returned to regular policing duties after TfL judged the results of the scheme to be less than conclusive.<ref name="medics"/> Officers from the unit treated over 650 people in the first year of operation, including rescuing a passenger who fell onto the tracks, and made 50 arrests.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/tube-medical-response-team-to-be-cut-by-more-than-half-9007138.html |title=Tube medical response team to be cut by more than half|last=Churchill|first=David|newspaper=[[London Evening Standard]]|access-date=11 September 2015}}</ref>

==== Firearms unit ====
In May 2011, the [[Secretary of State for Transport]] announced with agreement from the [[Home Secretary]] that approval had been given for BTP to develop a firearms capability following a submission to government in December by BTP.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/david-allen-green/2011/06/armed-officers-police-btp |title=Why are we arming the British Transport Police? |last=Green |first=David Allen |newspaper=[[New Statesman]]|access-date=21 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13521747|title=Transport police to be armed to counter terror threat|date=24 May 2011 |work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=21 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Hammond">{{cite press release |author=The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP |title=Provision of armed capability for the British Transport Police |url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/hammond20110524 |website=Department for Transport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528125813/http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/hammond20110524|archive-date=28 May 2011}}</ref> Government stated that this was not in response to any specific threat, and pointed out that it equipped the BTP with a capability that was already available to other police forces and that BTP relied upon police forces for assistance which was a burden.<ref name="Hammond" />

In February 2012, BTP [[Authorised Firearms Officer|firearms officers]] commenced patrols focusing on mainline stations in [[London]] and transport hubs to provide a visible deterrence and immediate armed response if necessary.<ref>{{cite web |title=BTP Firearms Capability |url=http://www.btp.police.uk/about_us/btp_firearms_capability.aspx |website=British Transport Police |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612024759/http://www.btp.police.uk/about_us/btp_firearms_capability.aspx|archive-date=12 June 2011}}</ref> Firearms officers carry a [[Glock 17L|Glock 17]] handgun and a [[Lewis Machine and Tool Company|LMT]] CQB 10.5" SBR carbine that may be fitted with a [[suppressor]] and are trained to [[armed response vehicle]] standard.<ref name="BTPFOI">{{cite web |title=Firearms used by British Transport Police - Freedom of Information Request 794-14 |url=https://www.btp.police.uk/pdf/FOI%20Response%20794-14%20Firearms%20used%20by%20BTP.pdf |website=British Transport Police |access-date=31 May 2017}}</ref>{{refn|The Firearms Unit whilst training firearms officers to Armed Response Vehicle (ARV) standard does not conduct ARV patrols; however, it uses vehicles to transport officers and tactical equipment to and from stations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Armed response call outs - Freedom of Information Request 937-14 |url=https://www.btp.police.uk/pdf/FOI%20Response%20937-14%20Armed%20response%20calls.pdf |website=British Transport Police|access-date=31 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Williams |first=Mark |title=British Transport Police|journal=Top Cover. The Police Firearms Officers Association Magazine |volume=Spring 2013|issue=3 |pages=8–9 |url=https://issuu.com/pfoa/docs/top_cover_issue_3_contents_web/8 |access-date=31 May 2017}}</ref>|group=Note}}

In 2014, the [[Firearms Act 1968]] was amended to recognise BTP as a police force under the Act in order to provide BTP a firearms licensing exemption the same as other police forces.<ref>{{Cite legislation UK |type=act|year=2014|chapter =12|act=Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014}}</ref>

In December 2016, firearms officers commenced patrolling on board train services on the [[London Underground]].<ref name="AFOMay2017" />

In May 2017, as part of the response to the [[Manchester Arena bombing]], it was announced that firearms officers would patrol on board trains outside London for the first time.<ref name="AFOMay2017">{{cite press release |url=http://media.btp.police.uk/r/14198/specialist_firearms_officers_to_patrol_on_trains_|title=Specialist firearms officers to patrol on trains as part of threat level change|date=25 May 2017 |publisher=British Transport Police|access-date=25 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529021116/http://media.btp.police.uk/r/14198/specialist_firearms_officers_to_patrol_on_trains_ |archive-date=29 May 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In June 2017, BTP announced that the force firearms capability would be expanding outside of London with plans to establish armouries and hubs at [[Birmingham]] and [[Manchester]]. In October 2017, BTP commenced an internal advertisement requesting expressions of interest from substantive constables for the role of firearms officers at Birmingham and Manchester.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}