PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
British Transport Police: Scotland (8 February 2018)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the effect of the merger of the Scottish component of the British Transport Police into Police Scotland on cross border policing; and what estimate he has made of the cost of cross border activities as a result of that merger.

Asked by:
Ian Murray (Labour)

The UK Government is working closely with the Scottish Government as well as the two police forces and police authorities through a Joint Programme Board, to ensure that effective arrangements are in place for cross-border railway policing once responsibilities have been transferred, so that we continue to have a railway policing service which protects the safety of passengers.

The direct costs of the transfer are being borne by the British Transport Police Authority which is wholly funded by the railway operators. The current estimated cost of the transfer to the Authority, which includes the costs of the British Transport Police, is £1.17m. Post-merger it is expected that the aggregate costs for railway operators of charges for policing from the British Transport Police and Police Scotland will be similar to current costs. Future policing charges in Scotland will be a matter for the Scottish Police Authority.

Answered by:
David Mundell (Conservative)
20 February 2018