Policing a crisis
The British Transport Police has a vital presence on the railways at the best of times, but its officers have a particularly important role during the Coronavirus crisis in enforcing the government restrictions on who should and shouldn’t be travelling. According to Sergeant
Jay Bibby, who is based at Benfleet station in Essex as part of the c2c team, this means striking a careful balance by seeking to deter unnecessary travel as a starting point, before considering other options.
He explains: “Fortunately, we’ve found incidents of unnecessary travel to be very limited. There’s been a lot written in the press recently about enforcing the lockdown measures at a national level, but our boss (BTP Chief Constable Paul Crowther) has made it very clear that enforcement is the last option, and that we are to try and
engage with the public where possible.”
Before the lockdown started in March, Jay says that most of his team’s work revolved around policing the ‘county lines’ organised crime networks that transport drugs and weapons all over the country. Working closely with colleagues from Essex Police’s Operation Raptor teams, BTP officers would help gather intelligence and make arrests where necessary.
The temporary cessation of this illegal ‘county lines’ trafficking seems to have been a pleasant side-effect of the Coronavirus pandemic, with even the criminals (it seems) opting to reduce their potential exposure.
“That sort of work has all but dried up,” adds Jay. “Hardly anyone is using the trains at the moment, so that’s a small positive in what is otherwise a massively negative situation. In fact, we’re not doing many train patrols at all because passengers, understandably, would rather not be having any close-up conversations or contact with other people.
“We are mindful that people are feeling quite nervous at the moment, so we are mainly providing a visual presence and staying mobile to respond to anything that comes up.”
Inevitably, there is still a small level of crime taking place around the country, and so Jay and his colleagues are required to make arrests if persons are known to be wanted by the police or are witnessed committing an offence.
This poses an unknown level of risk to officers who face possible transmission of the disease, although Jay considers this an “occupational hazard” which is difficult (if not impossible) to avoid.
Although all practical measures are being taken to mitigate the risks, by supplying officers with gloves and other personal protective equipment, there is an acceptance that apprehending suspected criminals and upholding the law remains of paramount concern.
“The BTP is looking after us well and obviously want us to stay fit and healthy. There is some concern about interaction with the public and then going home to our families, but it is a fact that when you sign up as a police officer there will be risks attached.
“On the plus side, we’re not in a position of losing our jobs like some other people have. And there’s some semblance of normality for us, so it’s not all doom and gloom.
“There’s a lot of pride among officers that we’re doing our bit to help the country, and I’m finally catching up with my paperwork - I don’t think I’ve been so up-to-date!”