Is there really a need for BTP at all in its current form? I understand there is some unique training to go on tracks etc after an accident ,but for everyday matters such as fights and fare dodgers ,the local plod should be absolutely picking this up . There isn't a uniquely BTP way of breaking up a fight.
I think so - they prioritise railway issues in a way the locals never would. Basic fare evaders aren't of much interest to them and nor would they be to the local police, though repeat or aggravated offenders are.
Things like messy fatalities are best dealt with by organisations who can properly support those involved.
Lose BTP and you lose a lot of specialist areas. BTP officers certainly do receive some degree of trackside training (though sadly use of fantastic information systems like Realtime Trains isn't, and hence you have a lot of officers using Ann already overworked control room), and I can fully assure you that local forces will not be interested in doing, or taking on, half the jobs BTP does - revenue related, criminal damage etc. Not only that, but despite the governments bluff about recruiting 20,000 officers (to home office forces only - BTP is not one of them - and in effect replacing more than 20,000 cut by... the conservatives), a lot of home office forces are still under pressure to make cutbacks. They wont want the hassle, and additional cost, that training officers to BTP standard would bring. Of course, having an officer being able to do everything sounds ideal, but it just wouldn't be practical, time or cost effective to do such a thing*.
*For example, BTP officers investigate their own allocated crimes, some home office forces do the same, my local one doesn't. The consequence of this is that these officers have more time to do response jobs, but the force has its own investigation team, which costs more to run. And in an age where the treasury controls nearly everything...
