The British Transport Police (BTP) is set to slash more than 500 positions and close 11 police stations, as it grapples with a significant funding gap and a worrying surge in crime across the rail network.
Rising Crime Meets Deepening Cuts
Official figures reveal that the BTP recorded a five per cent increase in crime in the twelve months leading to June 2025. This uptick includes notable rises in both violent and sexual offences, leading transport unions to describe a growing "epidemic of violence" facing passengers and staff. The alarming statistics follow a high-profile stabbing incident on a train near Huntingdon last year.
Simultaneously, the force is confronting a severe financial crisis, with an £8.5 million funding shortfall for the current financial year. This deficit is the direct driver behind the proposed cuts, which threaten to drastically reduce the visible presence of officers on the network.
Consequences for Safety and Security
A stark report presented to the British Transport Police Authority outlines the expected repercussions of the budget cuts. It warns of a reduced BTP visibility at stations and on trains, less capacity to investigate crimes thoroughly, and critically, slower responses to emergency 999 calls.
Transport unions have voiced profound alarm. Both the TSSA and RMT have highlighted that diminished staffing levels are already pulling officers away from frontline patrol duties to cover essential roles elsewhere. They are urgently calling for the government to implement a proper, long-term funding plan to deter attacks and ensure passenger safety.
Government Response and Future Promises
In contrast to the immediate crisis, the Department for Transport has emphasised that crime rates on the railway remain low overall. A spokesperson stated that the government has agreed to an increased BTP budget, with an ambition to deliver the highest number of officers since the Second World War by the 2028/29 financial year.
However, for rail passengers and workers facing the current reality of fewer officers and slower response times, that long-term target offers little immediate comfort. The gap between future promises and present-day cuts lies at the heart of the growing safety concern on Britain's railways.
