Govia Thameslink Railway and British Transport Police renew commitment to safety on the railway

• Both organisations have signed a collaboration agreement
• GTR hires Head of Policing and Security to deliver on commitments

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has strengthened its partnership with the British Transport Police (BTP) for another year by signing a collaboration agreement, committing both organisations to work together towards shared objectives.

The declaration was signed by Patrick Verwer, CEO of GTR, and Christopher Casey, Chief Superintendent for the BTP.

In the past year, the two organisations have worked together closely to crack down on crime across the GTR network. Joined-up working has included more patrols, increased presence at problem areas and dedicated teams tackling reports of antisocial behaviour and County Lines – both of which are rising year-on-year according to GTR data*.

The renewed agreement will help to continue meaningful and consistent work being delivered by GTR and BTP in partnership. Both parties will work together to:

• Deter unwanted sexual behaviour on GTR trains and stations
• Identify and protect potentially vulnerable people and groups using the GTR network
• Prevent and prosecute any staff assault
• Improve staff and passenger confidence through increased engagement

Samantha Facey, Safety, Health and Security Director at GTR, was present to witness the signing of the collaboration agreement.

She said: “Everyone travelling with GTR deserves to get home safely. We’ve worked closely with the BTP for many years, and along with our dedicated frontline teams and Rail Enforcement Officers, it is our joint mission to look out for the safety of our passengers and our staff. We were the first rail operator to sign the collaboration agreement in 2022 and since then have seen improvements in joint operations, shared information and better support.”

Christopher Casey, Chief Superintendent for the BTP, added: “This agreement further solidifies our close partnership as our goals remain closely intertwined. Our overarching vision at BTP is to be a world leading Police Force trusted to provide a safe and reliable railway. This agreement's signing distinctly outlines various mutual objectives that will enable us to collectively sustain efforts in deterring criminal activities within the rail network, while also fostering trust and confidence among passengers and rail industry partners.”

Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to all aspects of safety on the railway, GTR has also announced Mike Boyce as Head of Security & Policing. This new role will lead on all matters of security, crime, disorder and antisocial behaviour and help to strengthen relationships with the BTP and other key stakeholders.

Mike is bringing 20 years of experience with him from the BTP. In his long-serving career, he’s dealt with crimes involving theft, violence and fatalities and was promoted to the rank of Inspector. He has continued to work closely with the organisation as well as Eurostar and Network Rail to achieve a reduction in external and on-board delays whilst driving continuous improvement in stakeholder relationships.

He said: “I’m pleased to be taking on the new role of Head of Security and Policing at GTR. It’s a critical role that plays perfectly into my strengths and I’m looking forward to working with the wider team and other partners to ensure that everybody who travels through our stations or on our trains can do so safely. There is always work to be done, but part of my role is ensuring that we have plans in place to continuously improve the security of our network.”

ENDS

Editor's notes

*There have been over 1,000 staff reports of antisocial behaviour on trains and in stations since 1 April 2023. Reports linked to County Lines activity are already 30% higher than 2022-23.

County Lines is where illegal drugs are transported from one area to another, often across police and local authority boundaries (although not exclusively), usually by children or vulnerable people who are coerced into it by gangs.