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British Transport Police

Public order public safety — Authorised Professional Practice

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Summary

The British Transport Police (BTP) operates with a pan-UK remit, distinct from Home Office forces, yet collaborates closely with them. The BTP is tasked with meeting national standards for public order public safety (POPS) and has the required capability and capacity to perform its duties effectively. This encompasses planning, deployment, and the utilization of tactical options during football events and other public gatherings.

Key principles

  • 1BTP is a separate entity from Home Office forces but maintains close partnerships.
  • 2BTP has a dedicated POPS capability that meets national standards.
  • 3Effective command and planning are essential for BTP operations.
  • 4Tactical options available for various public safety scenarios.

Defined terms

POPS
Public Order Public Safety

Full guidance

This page is from APP, the official source of professional practice for policing.

As one of the forces with a truly pan-UK remit, the British Transport Police (BTP) is separate from other forces in this measure.

While not a Home Office force, there are regular close working partnerships between the BTP and Home Office forces.

The BTP maintains a public order public safety (POPS) capability and capacity that meets the relevant national standards and associated role profiles.

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Reproduced from the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice under the Open Government Licence v3.0, as captured on 2026-06-27. APP is amended over time — check the source link below for the current version. This is a reference, not operational authorisation.

APP is the authoritative source for UK policing practice and is updated over time. For the current, official version — including any operational detail not reproduced here — go direct.

Read the full APP guidance

Source: College of Policing — Authorised Professional Practice · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-27.