Rail police plea

Harry Knox (Letters, 14 December) and railway managers with years of experience are expressing justifiable outrage at the proposed merging of the British Transport Police with Police Scotland.

The BTP is a national service, with responsibilities over the whole British rail network. Our railway lines are not interrupted by frontiers and border posts as yet, and thankfully BTP can operate, as it does successfully, from Penzance to Thurso.

Every day BTP help some six million passengers to travel safely through the protection its officers give at stations and tracksides.

While serving for several years on the then Rail Passengers Committee Scotland, the highly specialised training and skills required by BTP officers became apparent. Their knowledge and efficiency was impressive.

It cannot be emphasised enough that the railway is a dangerous place; with electrification advancing in Central Scotland, the speed and quietness of trains will be an increasing hazard. For BTP officers, personal track safety certificates of competency, renewable after two years with refresher courses and examinations, are mandatory. This fact alone makes the force special.

The train operating companies, from Abellio Scotrail, Cross Country, First Transpennine to Virgin trains on both east and west Coast routes, have condemned the move by the Scottish Government to enforce an amalgamation of the BTP with Police Scotland.

Freight companies are equally concerned.

The move is driven by political dogma, not common sense, and must be stopped.

DR I A GLEN Monks Road, Airdrie