The roles for which we are recruiting
The
Secretary of State for Transport wishes to appoint a Deputy Chair, Scottish
Member, Welsh Member and up to four further Members of the British
Transport Police Authority. This includes the appointment of the following
specific roles:
·
A Deputy Chair.
·
A Member who has knowledge of the interests of
persons in Scotland appointed in consultation with Scottish Ministers – this
individual will chair the Scottish Railways Policing Committee, which is a
sub-committee of the BTPA.
·
A
Member who has knowledge of the interests of persons in Wales appointed in
consultation with Welsh Ministers.
·
Up
to four further Members who have knowledge and experience of any of the
following:
1. The companies who
operate the trains and tracks;
2.
The
staff who work for those operators;
3.
The
passengers who travel on the railway; or
4.
Policing.
We encourage applications from candidates who
can offer broader experience with suitable skills including but not limited to:
·
knowledge and experience of
-
financial issues
-
pensions;
-
risk management;
-
technology/digital;
-
business cases.
Please read the attached candidate pack for more information.
Welcome
Note from Mark Harper, Secretary of State for Transport
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Member of the
British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) which is an arm’s-length body of the
Department for Transport.
This is an important time for
the Department for Transport. We are investing heavily in infrastructure and
public transport to improve journeys, boost connections, level up the country
and support economic growth. Central to our mission is delivering transport
that works for everyone in our society.
We
are recruiting for a Deputy Chair, a new Scotland Member, a new Wales Member
and up to four other Members who either have knowledge and experience of those
providing railway services, working on the railways, and/or the interests of
persons travelling by rail.
BTPA is responsible for ensuring an efficient and effective police force
for rail operators, their staff and passengers. Its duties and functions are
similar to those of the Scottish
Police Authority or a police and crime commissioner in England and Wales, but
it oversees a force that is responsible for policing a much wider area – the
railways of Great Britain. The BTPA’s role is therefore vital to everyone who
uses or works on our railways – helping to support the British Transport Police
to tackle crime and ensure high levels of passenger confidence, as well as securing
value for money from the British Transport Police.
We are looking for motivated team players who
can provide strategic guidance in a Board context – and who can constructively
support and challenge. The successful candidates will be able to see the big
picture whilst recognising the interests of a wide range of stakeholders, and
will have strong, broad ranging skills, including those relating to strategy
and performance management.
We strongly welcome
applications from all backgrounds. As part of the Department’s commitment to
diversity, we believe our public appointments should reflect our customers -
the travelling public – who come from all walks of life and have different
experiences. We very much welcome fresh talent, expertise, and perspectives, to
help us better understand the needs of the communities we serve and support
better decision making for all. This includes people who may have never applied
for a public appointment – but could bring new ideas, insights and energy.
If you are interested in the
role and work of BTPA, full details of the
responsibilities are set out in this document and I would like to encourage you to apply.
Our dedicated DfT Public Appointments Team would be happy
to talk through the process and answer your questions.
The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP
Secretary of State for Transport
Welcome Note from Ron Barclay-Smith, Chair of BTPA
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Member of the
British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). This is an exciting opportunity to
join the independent oversight board of the national police service which keeps
Britain’s rail network safe and secure. As the specialist and dedicated police
service for Britain’s railways, BTP’s work is wide reaching, providing an
important service to all passenger and freight operators, Network Rail, their
staff and customers across England, Scotland and Wales, as well as policing the
London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, the Midland Metro Tram System,
Croydon Tramlink, Sunderland Metro and Glasgow Subway.
BTPA is principally responsible for charging train
operators for the policing of the railway and therefore must ensure value for
money for its funders. To achieve this, BTP, supported by BTPA, has embarked on
a transformation programme which will deliver new ways of working, exploiting
the use of digital technology better to predict where resources need to be deployed,
analysing the success of its actions and interventions, and enabling officers
to spend more time out on patrol working effectively and productively where it
matters most.
The BTPA, as the oversight body of the largest of the
three national infrastructure forces, is also well placed to contribute to the
national conversation around policing, and to further this aim it works closely
with the DfT, Home Office, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners
and other policing oversight bodies and organisations. The range of BTPA’s
stakeholders is, however, much broader than this and Members will also be
called upon to engage with funders in the rail industry, passenger groups, the
devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales and more besides. The BTPA’s
largest funders are Network Rail and Transport for London who currently form
two of the key partners within the rail industry.
It is imperative that BTPA and BTP work collaboratively
to deliver efficient and effective policing for the railways in our different
roles with trust, openness and transparency at the core of our relationship. At
the same time, Members must be prepared to ask the challenging questions and
fulfil the role of critical friend, ensuring a balanced and healthy debate to
achieve the best outcomes.
We now seek up to seven new Members who can
adapt and influence strategic change, have excellent communication skills with
political and commercial acumen and high personal integrity. We particularly want to see
applications from candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds and
perspectives – reflecting the diversity of the communities the BTP serves and
helping to maximise the effectiveness of the Authority. Supporting diversity
and a broad range of perspectives around the Authority table is of particular
personal importance to me as Chair.
Finally, this is an opportunity to work with a great
group of people in the Force and the Authority, and be a Member of an Authority
which has an exceptional team spirit and is clear about the need to scrutinise
and support a highly professional police force.
I hope you will be inspired by this exciting opportunity
to be at the forefront of national policing, making a real difference to the
protection of Great Britain’s critical rail infrastructure and those who work
and travel upon it. If you require any further information, I would encourage
you to contact Raquel Cortes[1] at the Authority to arrange an informal discussion with
me. I will also be hosting a Webinar about the roles in the coming weeks –
further information will shortly be provided on the BTPA Website.
Ron
Barclay-Smith
BTPA
Chair
About the Role: Deputy Chair
Title:
Deputy Chair
Reports
to: BTPA Chair
Duration: An initial term of up to 4 years, with the
possibility of
re-appointment
Remuneration: £25k per annum for 50 days attendance
The Deputy Chair’s role is the same as that of
a Member but with the additional responsibility to deputise for the Chair when
necessary, and to assist the Chair in fulfilling their role. The Chair’s core
responsibilities include:
·
Providing
effective and strategic leadership to the Authority to ensure:
-
the formulation of
the Authority’s strategy;
- that the Authority takes proper account of the
guidance provided by the responsible Minister or the Department;
- the promotion of efficient and effective use of
staff and resources;
- the delivery of high standards of regularity and
propriety; and
- the representation of views of the Authority to the
general public.
·
With the support
of the Chief Executive, ensuring that all Authority Members, when taking up
office, are fully briefed on the terms of their appointment, and their duties,
rights and responsibilities.
·
Undertaking an annual appraisal with each Authority
Member to coordinate with the board effectiveness evaluation and to be used as
a base for the Chair’s report to the Secretary of State on the Members’
reappointment.
·
Addressing the developmental needs of the Authority
as a whole with a view to enhancing its effectiveness.
·
The Chief Constable and the Chief Executive are to
work closely with the Chair to ensure the role and responsibilities of the
Authority are discharged.
See Member role for full responsibilities
and essential criteria.
About the Role: Members
Title:
Member
Reports
to: BTPA Chair
Duration: An initial term of up to 4 years, with the
possibility of re-appointment
Remuneration: £15k per annum for 30 days attendance
Members of the BTPA play an active role in
working towards ensuring an effective and
efficient police service is provided for
the railways. Collectively, the BTPA is accountable through the Chair to DfT
Ministers for the discharge of the responsibilities set out in the legislation. Members’ primary responsibility will be to the work of the BTPA as a whole
rather than as a representative of any
area from which they may come.
The
“Scottish” Member will chair the Scottish Railways Policing Committee, which is
a sub-committee of the BTPA and routinely meets in Glasgow. It would be
desirable therefore if Scottish applicants could demonstrate experience in
chairing meetings. It will also be necessary to demonstrate an understanding of
the Scottish political landscape.
The key responsibilities for
all Members are to:
·
Carry
out collectively all the statutory and locally-determined requirements of a
Member of the BTPA, including participation in formulating policy,
decision making and contributing to the work of the BTPA in relation to
determining the budget and charges to be made to the rail industry, determining
policing priorities, agreeing the
annual railways policing plan, best value plan and other issues.
·
Contribute effectively to discussions at the
full Authority and its committees.
·
Examine,
challenge and support the operational delivery and commercial implications of
policy proposals, major projects and programmes, strategic and organisational
issues at BTP.
·
Work
with BTPA Executive Team to scrutinise BTP’s management information to ensure
delivery of the Strategy, Policing Plans and transformation portfolio, acting
as a point of support and challenge to its successful implementation, including
on areas such as ensuring value for money.
· Be
involved in the work of the BTPA as directed by the Chair, including membership of any committees, panels or working
groups which are established by the BTPA or undertaking a lead role in aspects of work if the Chair determines that that
is an effective way of conducting the Authority’s business.
· Take
an interest in the regional work of BTP, as agreed by the Chair; in doing so,
Members provide strong and effective constructive challenge, as well as support.
· Comply
with all relevant codes of conduct
and maintain the highest standards of conduct and ethics, and ensure that the
BTPA operates within the legislative,
policy and resources framework agreed with the Secretary of State. Members are
expected to adhere to the spirit of The Seven Principles of Public Life at Appendix A.
· Maintain
an up-to-date knowledge and awareness of issues affecting the policing of the
railway network.
· Participate
in consultative arrangements that the
BTPA establishes, and actively engage
in communication and dialogue with the rail industry, the UK,
Scottish and Welsh Governments, passengers and other stakeholders when required.
· Effectively
represent the views of the BTPA with
stakeholders as and when required by
the Chair.
· Promote
equality of opportunity in work to eliminate unlawful discrimination, both
internally within the BTPA and the
BTP and in the provision of policing services.
· Attend
local, regional and national
conferences/seminars/briefings if nominated by the BTPA.
· Participate
in inspections and audits of the BTP and BTPA, as appropriate.
· Assist
the Chair in the strategic direction
of the BTPA and corporate business plans.
· Support
the Chair in overseeing the BTP as a whole, including holding it to effective
account.
About the British Transport
Police Authority
The BTPA was established by the Railways and
Transport Safety Act 2003 (the Act) as the independent oversight body for the British
Transport Police (BTP). The Act provides for the Secretary of State for
Transport to appoint between eleven and seventeen Members to the BTPA. This
includes the Chair (Ron Barclay-Smith) and a Deputy Chair.
The BTPA is a cross-border public authority
which means that the Scottish Government must be consulted about appointments
to the BTPA.
The
BTPA currently comprises 11 Members including Members with specific knowledge
of the interests of persons in Scotland, Wales and England. The BTPA’s
important responsibilities are to set the strategy, policing plans and budget
for BTP; to make senior appointments and to hold the Chief Constable to
account. These
roles
are critical to ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of an important
public service. An overview of the BTPA’s primary duties is provided below.
Setting
BTP’s strategy: The BTPA is responsible for setting
objectives for the BTP before the beginning of each financial year. The BTPA
announces these objectives, as well as its strategic direction and performance
review of the BTP through a number of publications:
· The
Strategic Plan
sets out the BTPA’s medium-term and long-term strategies
for policing the railways. The current strategy published in June 2022 covers
the period 2022-27 and will see
long-term changes to passenger journeys and ways of working influenced by the
pandemic, the first steps in the Government’s ambitious programme of rail
reform, an increase in freight traffic, and the delivery of new services. All
of these factors will influence the demand for our policing services, how those
services are accessed, how we deliver them and the partnerships through which
we achieve success.
· Its
annual Policing
Plan contains the BTPA’s priorities for the year,
the financial resources it expects to be available and how it proposes to
allocate those resources.
· Finally,
the Annual
Report, published after the end of each financial year
and covering the policing of the railways in that year.
BTP’s
funding and budget: BTPA determines the budget of the BTP –
formally called the BTP Fund. It plays a key role in holding the BTP to account
for ensuring that budget is spent efficiently and effectively. In particular,
it has an important role in ensuring the delivery of the efficiency programme
for the BTP, helping to secure better value for money for both taxpayers and
stakeholders.
Stakeholder engagement:
This
ensures that stakeholders, in particular the rail industry who pay for the
policing of the railway, are able effectively to contribute to the development
of the Strategic Plan and annual Policing Plan. Effective stakeholder
engagement is essential for the BTPA. That engagement involves listening to
franchise holders as well as their representative bodies, such as Rail Partners
(previously the Rail Delivery Group).
Police Service Agreements:
BTPA enters into agreements with train, freight and other operating and
infrastructure companies in order to provide a policing service to their
railway or railway property. These agreements, referred to as Police Services
Agreements (PSAs), also require the companies to make payments for the service.
When, for instance, a new rail franchise is awarded by the Department for
Transport (or by Scottish or Welsh Ministers), the winning company is usually
required to enter into a new PSA with BTPA.
Emergency Agreements: In the
event that an emergency financial provision is required, the DfT can provide
the Authority with separate grants for specific (ring-fenced) purposes in
accordance with the Framework agreement. The Authority will provide evidence
that the grant was used for the purposes authorised by DfT. The Authority shall
not have uncommitted grant funds in hand, nor carry specific grant funds to
another financial year.
Performance monitoring: Members of the BTPA
provide oversight and scrutiny of BTP’s performance during the year, helping to
ensure it provides an effective serviceto railway users,
staff and the railway more generally. A focus for BTPA is on legitimacy
providing oversight of those aspects of policing that impact the public’strust in the police service the most including
professionalism, use of force, stop and search and detention.
Appointments:
The BTPA is responsible for the recruitment to fill senior vacancies in the BTP
including the Chief Constable and members of the Force’s Chief Officers’ Group.
The BTPA is also the employer of all BTP officers and members of staff.
Regulation
of the BTP: As with Home Office forces in England and
Wales, for which regulations are issued under sections 50-52 of the Police Act
1996, the BTPA is able to issue regulations for the BTP as described by the
Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.
Overseeing
broader priorities; including further discussions around the
devolution of the BTP’s functions in Scotland, and any implications for the BTP
resulting from reform of the railways.
The
Executive Team: The
BTPA is supported by a small Executive team led by a Chief Executive who is
the Accounting Officer for the BTP Fund.
Role
of the British Transport Police (BTP) Force: The work BTP does is complex, multi-faceted and vitally important, spanning
all areas of policing from community policing through to armed response and
counter-terrorism. In fulfilling its statutory purpose to deliver efficient and
effective policing for the railways in England, Scotland and Wales, BTP also
plays a vitally important role in tackling and minimising the disruption caused
by incidents on the railway, addressing violent crime, countering the terrorist
threat and protecting Great Britain’s critical railway infrastructure and those
who work and travel on it. BTP has a significant role in identifying and
helping people in crisis, those who are vulnerable or at risk of exploitation
and responding to the unique risks of the railway in this regard. This
significant task, which spans 10,000 miles of track and more than 3,000 railway
stations and depots, relies on the hard work, dedication and experience of
officers and civilian staff, based at Headquarters in London, Glasgow and
Birmingham and dispersed across Great Britain.
BTP is unique in many ways, not least in the
stakeholder environment within which it operates. Working across three of the
four home nations, it is essential that BTP works in close partnership with
others in the policing family across Great Britain, to provide a responsive and
joined-up service to passengers, rail staff and others who work on or live near
the railway. BTP is substantially funded by train companies as well as by
Network Rail and Transport for London, and it must operate efficiently, to deliver a
high-quality, responsive service across an expanding network at a cost which
delivers recognisable value for money for funders.
BTP is committed to
working efficiently, in partnership with the BTPA, and has launched an
ambitious transformation programme to deliver significant savings by 2027. The
transformation programme comprises a number of initiatives to implement new
ways of working for intelligence, justice and public protection, recognising
that BTP’s people are its greatest asset. Beyond this, BTP is ambitious for the
future and, as one of few policing bodies that crosses county boundaries, it is
well placed to contribute fully to the national policing agenda.
BTP currently has an overall revenue budget of
around £350m, with circa 5000 employees including officers, PCSOs, staff, as
well as volunteer special constables.
