Tag: Publicity

Not directly involving policing, but the BTPHG have been supporting Railway 200 this year, marking the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. This has been celebrated with a commemorative poem from Poet Laureate Simon Armitage CBE.

Titled ‘The Longest Train In The World’, the poem is published as part of Railway 200, a national celebration of the past, present and future of the railway, exploring how this British invention has shaped our lives and livelihoods.

Rail’s bicentenary is inspired by the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway on 27 September 1825, a journey that changed the world forever.

Reading by Simon Armitage, filmed in Marsden, West Yorkshire.

The Longest Train In The World

We stood in a northern field and witnessed it
rocketing past, barrelled and chimneyed,
towing an open-top truck, kicking up dust
and chucking out sparks as it cantered
the metal road. We gasped and it gasped back.
It kept coming: we sat with our legs dangling
over a stone bridge as it steamed along,
cheeks and chest puffed out, lungs heaving,
hauling the golden age and ragging a blue sky
with silver clouds. We saluted – it hooted back.
It kept on coming: from steep embankments
and country platforms we whistled and flagged,
tried to peek inside the upholstered Pullmans
and catch the eye of important someones
riding on plush cushions; we waved,
hoping a gloved hand might wave back.
It kept on coming: we clapped like mad
when its diesel engines went like the clappers,
gawped from city streets and apartments,
smiled at hundreds of faces, as if the carriages
whooshed entire towns of passengers station
to station. It kept on coming, tunnelling
under mountain ranges then vaulting ravines
and canyons. When sleepwalking coaches
shushed through curtained suburbs at night
we wished them sweet dreams; when freight containers
trundled and rumbled down branching branch lines
we nodded a knowing wink to the rolling stock
and it winked back. It just kept on coming:
we fist-bumped and high-fived the sleek machines
of the future, some bulleting here to there,
some gliding on air. And we waited to clock
the last guard’s van swinging its red lantern,
but that didn’t happen: rounding the globe
coupled nose to tail to nose to tail that train
was two centuries long and still counting.

© 2025: Simon Armitage

See also: Railway 200

Further details can be found on the website: Railway 200
and within the various railway magazines on sale.

Source: Poet Laureate Marks Railway Bicentenary

The BTP recently began to update the BTP logo / badge to incorporate the new crown.

The new logo features the chosen crown of His Majesty King Charles III.

When King Charles III acceded to the throne, he chose to use the Tudor Crown in his Royal Cypher. Previously, the St Edward’s Crown was used by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The design of the Tudor Crown can be distinguished by its slightly more domed appearance.

Guidance stipulates that the roll-out of the new badge should be in a gradual and cost-efficient manner. Several versions of the logo have been released for use – in full colour, white and blue; and in English, Welsh and bi-lingual.

Webmaster’s Note:
Logo courtesy of BTP (Communications)
Thanks to Kay Beal for letting us know.

Also see: The Force Crest

by Phil Trendall

History in the making….

For the first time an ex-BTP officer has been appointed as the Surveillance Camera Commissioner AND as the Biometrics Commissioner. Both posts were created under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and are high profile public appointments. Dr Fraser Sampson will take up his work later in March 2021. The Home Secretary said: “It is vital the government works to empower police to use technology to keep the public safe while maintaining their trust and Fraser Sampson’s extensive experience in law and policing makes him the right person to take up this role.”

Fraser joined the BTP in the early 1980s and served in the North East Area. He was later seconded to the Home Office Central Planning Unit at Harrogate (now the College of Policing) where he worked as a legal researcher specialising in the application of the criminal law in operational circumstances. He returned to the force and later, in 1992, became an Inspector at the Tadworth Force Training Centre. His work included introducing many innovations in training as well as leading the training team in their own development. His time at Tadworth coincided with a particularly active PIRA campaign so he led operational deployments in the south east when required. He returned to Leeds as an Inspector and was later seconded back to central service. He left the force as a superintendent in 1996. After BTP he qualified as a solicitor working in the area of police law. He wrote several of the Blackstones Police Promotional Manuals and is a prolific author. He became Director of the Civil Nuclear Police Authority and went on to carry out similar roles with West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire Police. During his time at Tadworth he offered support to officers who were working to preserve and collect material relating to the history of the force. We wish him well in his new job.

Official Announcement: Gov.uk

March is Women’s History Month and the BTP is taking the opportunity to celebrate women in the railway police.

It is especially fitting as this month sees the appointment of the BTP’s first female Chief Constable, Lucy D’Orsi.

The BTP History Group were pleased to be able to assist the BTP Communications Department in this endeavour.  BTP will be sharing regional highlights on various social media channels – keep an eye out.

Also see:

Policewomen on the Railways 1917 – 2017

Policewomen in Pictures

The British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) have announced that Lucy D’Orsi has been appointed as Chief Constable of the British Transport Police (BTP).  She will take up her appointment early in the New Year.

Lucy is currently the Metropolitan Police’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) for Specialist Operations. The current BTP Chief Constable Paul Crowther CBE is set to retire in February 2020 after 40 years of distinguished continuous service with the Force.

Lucy joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 1992. She has extensive experience working across multiple London boroughs and held the role of Commander East London. Lucy is currently Counter Terrorism Policing’s Senior National Coordinator for Protective Security and Preparedness. She works closely with UK businesses, UK military and International law enforcement agencies. Lucy is a gold public order commander and has led the policing of multiple events.

Lucy currently has London responsibilities for Royalty and Specialist Protection, Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection, Aviation Policing and Protective Security. She recently led on the Centenary celebrations for 100 years of Metropolitan Police Women and is also the National Police lead for Taser and Counter Drone UK capabilities.

Lucy says: “I am delighted and honoured to be appointed as the next Chief Constable of BTP. I am looking forward to building on the legacy that Paul is handing over and I would like to thank him for his dedication to policing. Whilst policing the Nation’s capital has given me a wealth of operational experience, I am excited to lead a force that deals with the unique nature of policing Britain’s rail, underground and tram network. Working with industry partners and government to keep passengers safe, the railway moving and protect our critical national infrastructure, particularly during these uncertain times will be very rewarding. I very much look forward to working with the exceptional officers and staff of BTP, and the Police Authority. Finally, I would like to thank my family, friends and colleagues who have supported me throughout my policing career.”

BTPA Chair, Ron Barclay-Smith, says: “We believe that Lucy will bring valuable skills and insightful leadership to BTP, at a time when there is an uncertain future for Britain’s rail landscape. With the changing nature of crime and demand on the railway following Covid-19, and the need for ever closer working between BTP and train operators, we feel that Lucy’s strong blend of experience and aptitude position her well to lead BTP.  We are delighted she has agreed to take on this role.”

Lucy will provide effective leadership to a large, dispersed workforce of over 5,000 police officers and staff across England, Scotland and Wales, as well as leading constructive partnerships with the Department for Transport, the devolved administrations and the Rail Industry across Great Britain. She will develop BTP’s Strategy and lead BTP in delivering its service economically and efficiently, whilst simultaneously enhancing its reputation further for its innovative and bold approach on the national policing stage.

Lucy was chosen following a rigorous interview and assessment process led by the BTPA, the oversight body for the BTP. The appointment was approved by the Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps MP and endorsed by Scottish Justice Minister Humza Yousaf MSP.

Source: British Transport Police Authority