Peers prepare to debate controversial railway policing plans

Only a third of BTP officers have agreed to transfer across Further attempts are to be made to halt the controversial integration of railway policing into Police Scotland.

Peers will debate the merger of British Transport Police (BTP) and the national force next week in the hope of putting pressure on the UK government over its decision to devolve rail policing.

Under legislation passed last year by the Scottish Parliament, BTP’S operations north of the Border will pass to Police Scotland from March 2019.

Earlier this week The Scotsmanrevealedthataroundtwothirds of BTP officers in Scotland remain unsure whether they will join Police Scotland following the merger.

Labour’s Lord Foulkes said the debate in the House of Lords on Wednesday would provide an opportunity to furtherscrutinisetheplanswhich he described as “unworkable”.

He said: “I previously asked [the Scotland Office’s] Lord Duncan to look at the whole question of devolving the responsibility of the BTP in Scotland to the Scottish Parliament.

“I don’t think it’s too late to do something about this. If you realise the mistake has been made, you should do something about rectifying that.”

The Scotland Office has previously ruled out the prospect of getting involved in a devolved matter.

An internal staff survey obtained by The Scotsman earlier this week showed just 35 per cent of BTP officers (of a total of about 200) and 45 per cent of its civilian staff intend to move across to Police Scotland.