Happy Halloween from the BTPHG.

As we approach Remembrance Day it is time again to reflect on those RDC officers who were killed during the conflicts, either overseas or on duty.

A reminder that we have the Roll of Honour pages detailing those officers.

The 2025 Poppy Appeal for the Royal British Legion is now underway. There are volunteer collectors out on the streets and stations. You can also donate online.

A new railway crime related fiction book is now available.

Cabinet of Curious Cases by E. H. Lockwood

Step back into the shadowed world of Britain’s railways with Cabinet of Curious Cases — a collection of historical mysteries blending fact, fiction, and the forgotten origins of railway policing.

From the first recorded railway murder investigation on the Stockton & Darlington line in 1827, to echoes of the Crimean War, to spectral mysteries on the Isle of Man and beyond, these stories weave together gripping narrative with real history.

Inside the Cabinet, you’ll discover:

• Murder on the Darlington Line (1827): Constable John Metcalfe investigates the brutal death of mine owner Percival Drake aboard Locomotion No.1, inspired by the earliest days of railway policing.
• Echoes of Balaclava: The story of William Nicholson, a Crimean War veteran who went on to serve as a Railway Police Inspector.
• Phantom of the Rails: A chilling Victorian mystery set against the backdrop of the Isle of Man’s steam railway.
• Death in the Dugout & The Final Watch: Later tales linking wartime sacrifice, railway policing, and the enduring duty of constables across generations.

Why this book matters

Lockwood’s stories celebrate the little-known history of the world’s first railway constables while offering compelling tales for lovers of mystery, history, and crime fiction alike.

Cabinet of Curious Cases is available in A4 print for £9.99

Cabinet of Curious Cases

Lockwood, E H

Buy Now

Last year I posted a piece about the Court of Appeal verdict on two innocent men who had their convictions quashed. Sadly, neither Saliah Mehmet or Basil Peterkin lived to learn of their exoneration. They were two more victims of the  disgraced BTP officer Derek Ridgewell.

This week (17th July 2025) another two men were cleared. So far, 13 cases have been overturned.

Errol Campbell, who died in 2004, had been jailed for 18 months for theft and conspiracy to steal while Ronald De Souza, who was part of the group known as the Stockwell Six, was detained for six months for attempted robbery.

Assistant Chief Constable Charlie Doyle said BTP was “sincerely sorry” to those affected by the criminal actions of Ridgewell.

“[His] appalling actions in the 1970s and 1980s led to the criminalisation of innocent people,” he said.

“I am disgusted by the actions of Derek Ridgewell, and while we know we can’t change the past, his actions do not represent the BTP of today.

“We’re continuing to review records relating to his corrupt practices, which includes those relating to officers who were associated with DS Ridgewell or may have assisted him in his criminal activity. We continue to actively pursue a criminal investigation into the actions of those involved and will present a file to the CPS for consideration once we have completed our enquiries.”

BBC News report: Two framed by corrupt officer decades ago cleared

Also see: Convictions Quashed

Time for our occasional reminder that in the ‘Pages’ column to the right of the screen we have a link called ‘Website Updates’.
Unsurprisingly this links to the Website Updates page. If you are a regular visitor to the site it’s a handy page to look at to see what new articles and items of interest have been added to the website recently.

Of course smaller items, such as photographs in the Photo Gallery, are being added all the time – so it’s still worth having a look around the site to see what you might find!

Congratulations to Jane Horton on the award of the British Empire Medal (B.E.M.).

The Honours page has been updated.

From the BTP website:

A dedicated British Transport Police (BTP) employee credited with having a ‘profound impact on the force’ has been awarded an honour in The King’s Birthday 2025 Honours List.

Retiree Jane Horton, who served as Finance Planning and Analysis Manager up until her retirement last year, has received a BEM (British Empire Medal) for services to policing.

In her thirty years at BTP she is credited with advising senior leaders and helping strengthen stakeholder relations, and it was in no small part thanks to Jane’s financial expertise that additional policing could be secured for the launch of the Elizabeth line in 2022.

Through Jane’s efforts, the force was able to recruit and deploy extra officers for the opening. Such was her success that her plan has now been adopted for all future large-scale events.

Additionally, while working for BTP Jane was an active and dedicated volunteer, supporting the Force’s policing of the London Olympics in 2012.

Despite being retired she continues to commit her time to BTP, assisting in the training of police dogs and playing an integral role as an actor for major incident scenario planning.

On receiving this honour, Jane said: “When the post arrived, I stared at the envelope for a good 10 minutes – On His Majesty’s Service – trying to work out what it was that I had been handed. I was totally stunned when I opened the envelope, and still am to this day.

“During my years in BTP, there have certainly been some challenging times and I have tried to support operational policing through finance decisions. I am humbled to think that my contribution has been valued sufficiently to be nominated and I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of all the wonderful people who have worked with me over the years.”

Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi said: “Jane’s contribution to BTP cannot be overstated – in her long career not only has she laid the financial groundwork for future large-scale operations but she continues to serve the Force with her tireless volunteering.

“I am extremely proud to see her efforts recognised with a British Empire Medal in His Majesty’s Birthday Honours and would like to congratulate her on this remarkable achievement.”

Sources:
BTP Website: Dedicated member of BTP staff recognised
HM Government Cabinet Office : Birthday Honours List 2025

The Final Beat

Robert Smith, a PC with the London and North Eastern Railway Police, aged 64 years, was killed during the early hours of the morning of the 29th April 1942, during the biggest raid by the Luftwaffe carried out on York in World War Two. He was on duty in the police office when it took a direct hit.

He is recognised in the BTPHG Second World War Roll of Honour (RoH).

In 2017, the BTP History Group were responsible for identifying Robert’s grave. There was no headstone and the plot had become overgrown with vegetation. The BTPHG arranged for a memorial tribute to be held and a wooden cross was placed on the gravesite. The ceremony was attended by members of Robert’s family, serving and retired officers, and the Railway Mission.

On Monday 29th April 2024, thanks to funding from LNER, a memorial and dedication service took place at York Cemetery where wreaths were laid at the site of a new headstone, which will act as a lasting reminder of the life of PC Robert Smith.

Now, in 2025, a new documentary film is being made about Robert Smith by Forge Films of York.

A crowdfunding campaign has now been started to raise funds to complete and launch the film. As with most crowdfunding schemes, a variety of perks are availble to donors.

Details of the campaign are available here:
PC Robert Smith – The Final Beat.

Also see:
Baedeker Air Raid commemoration
PC Robert Smith – Gravesite Dedication

As I’ve said before on this blog, history doesn’t have to be old. We’re creating new history every day. Of historical significance is the first use of remotely controlled drones to assist with trespassing and other lineside incidents.

From the BTP website:

BTP has launched its ground-breaking new remote ‘drone in a box’ capability, becoming the first police force to operationalise this advanced drone technology to better keep the public safe and reduce disruption.

The new capability will enhance our ability to respond swiftly and effectively to incidents on the railway network, helping to improve safety, reduce disruption, and support frontline operations as they happen.

The drones will be based at key locations across the network where we know there are spikes in trespass and other disruption incidents, and flown remotely from our control room in London – allowing us to respond to incidents quicker, make more informed decisions, and also free up BTP officers to respond to other offences.

The majority of typical drone operations are conducted within the Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) of the pilot, which is around 500 meters for a small drone. However, the police are able to operate beyond this distance (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) using State Aircraft legislation.

BTP are the first force to obtain legal advice and use Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) routinely and regularly in support of policing, rather than just for emergencies.

As well as the relevant legal advice, our dedicated team have carried out significant work behind the scenes to ensure they are operating under a robust framework in which to fly safely.

Last week (24 April) we hosted a launch event at one of the pilot sites in Leeds which involved a live demonstration of the drone capability for our industry partners including Network Rail, Department for Transport, NPCC Drones, West Yorkshire Police, Northern Rail, and the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA).

Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi said: “Our new ‘drone in a box’ capability is going to be transformational to our ability to reduce disruption across the rail network.

“This is ground-breaking technology which will allow us to respond to trespass incidents quickly, saving the industry money, improving safety, and keeping the railway moving for passengers.

“It is a fantastic example of the advances we are making at BTP to shape the future of policing, and I’m excited to work with rail industry partners to expand this across the railway as we work together to keep the public safe and reduce disruption.”

Also see: Old and New

Source:
BTP become first police force to launch remote ‘drone in a box’ capability.