Issue 18 October / N

ovember 2011

Championship challengeFootball Banning Orders do deter violent fans page 6/7

Cutting edge patrol A collaboration between BTP and Cambridge University aims to go beyond intelligence-led policing page 10

theLine

The m

agazine of British T

ransport Police

SUCCESS AT RAIL INDUSTRY AWARDSThere was unprecedented success for BTP at the 2011 National Rail Awards held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel in September

Amongst other initiatives, the submission highlighted Virgin Trains installation of forward-facing CCTV cameras on trains, as well Chief Operating O�cer Chris Gibbs’ negotiations with ASLEF and the wider industry helping to promote a special fatality hotline for drivers to contact BTP following an incident.

Also in the teamwork category, the North Western Area’s Liverpool Neighbourhood Policing Team picked up a well earned commendation.

Down south, Brighton based PC Steve Jarvis, nominated by Southern Railway, was presented with the Outstanding Personal Contribution Award for his work with the company’s Rail Neighbourhood O�cer Teams.

The judges described Steve as “inspirational” and said his enthusiasm, commitment and belief that it is not enough to go through the motions, epitomises everything the award represents.

Area Commander Chief Superintendent Steve Morgan said Steve fully deserved recognition.

“The award highlights Steve’s outstanding work and arrest rate, coupled with his dedication, passion for the job and his excellent partnership working with Southern Railway.”

In the railway industry, nothing is as important as safety, so BTP was very pleased to be part of the team that took this year’s Safety Award. That went to the East Midlands Level Crossing collaboration involving BTP’s North Eastern Area, Network Rail and East Midlands Trains.

“The National Rail Awards are fiercely competitive and the winners were chosen from a huge and varied selection of entries from all parts of the railway,” said Chief Constable Andy Trotter. “This success reflects outstanding work by BTP teams across the country.”

London North Area picked up the Outstanding Teamwork Award for their work on fatality management (see The Line August/September). The Area has been a leader in promoting a fatality management programme that includes prevention, response and collaborative working.

PC Steve Jarvis (right), winner of the Outstanding Personal Contribution Award with ACC Alan Pacey

Being match fitAs a rugby fan, I don’t particularly subscribe to the notion of football as the beautiful game, but I have to admit, albeit reluctantly, that it is our national game.

Whilst millions of people enjoy attending matches every year, there remains a

small minority for whom the match is only part of the day out, and for whom drunken disorder and even violence are also part of the experience.

That minority continues to blight the rail journeys of many ordinary passengers, stain the reputation of the game and the country, and continues to cause us problems that require significant resources to contain.

We have had success in dealing with organised hooliganism and serious incidents are on the decline. However, the same cannot be said for the type of raucous, anti-social behaviour that is still too often associated with match days and this issue of The Line looks at some of the developments going on in partnership with the rail industry and football authorities to tackle that.

Whether it is football, cable theft or routine policing, we are always striving to improve, and it was very pleasing to see how well we did at the National Rail Awards this year. Our partnerships with rail operators, as well as excellence by individuals, are making a real di�erence to people’s travelling experience and there has been some very good work going on around the country that really does deserve special recognition.

The London North team working with a number of partners has done some pioneering work in helping prevent vulnerable individuals from ending their days under a train, whilst at the same time streamlining the way we collectively manage such incidents to minimize their impact.

Also featured this month are a number of very brave people, who it was my privilege to be able to congratulate in person at a recent ceremony. It is police o�cers, Police Community Support O�cers and ordinary members of the public like them who keep our communities safe and are an inspiration to all of us.

DNA traps sex attacker

A man has been jailed for five years for a serious sexual assault on a teenage girl.

Forty-nine year old John Diddier forced his 17-year-old victim into the toilet of a train between Bedford and St Albans in January 2011. He was tracked down through DNA traces and arrested in April.

Diddier will also be placed on the Sex O�enders’ Register for life and remain on licence for 10 years after he is released from prison.Robbers in court

Three men, who conspired to burgle an ATM at Eltham station and to rob a cash in

transit van at Swanley station, have been sentenced to eight, nine and ten year prison terms. A fourth man is yet to be sentenced.Man who groomed teenager on line jailedA man who groomed a teenage girl online for almost a year before flying to the UK to have sex with her has been jailed for 18 months.

Twenty-six-year old Enrico Conti from Milan flew into Stansted and travelled to Peterborough station to meet the 13-year-old he had groomed on a social networking site.

In October, he was sentenced after pleading guilty to grooming a person under the age of 16. He was also placed on the Sex O�enders’ Register for at least 10 years.

theLine

EDITORIAL IN THIS ISSUE

For circulation/subscription enquiries contact:

Media and MarketingBritish Transport PoliceForce Headquarters, 25 Camden Road London, NW1 9LN

Editor Simon LubinEmail theline@btp.pnn.police.ukTelephone 020 7830 8854

www.btp.police.uk

Citizens’ Panel sets up in the North East

New chair for Rail Football Forum

Railway Oscars for BTP

NEWS IN BRIEF

PAGE 9

PAGE 8

PAGE 3

Chief Constable Andy Trotter

2 THE LINE THE MAGAZINE OF BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE ISSUE 18, OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2011 THE LINE 3

What is your background in football policing?Whilst serving with Greater Manchester Police, I policed a wide variety of clubs at all ranks, culminating in the role of Match Commander at both Maine Road (former home of Manchester City) and at Old Tra�ord.

Working with Manchester United, I experienced working with foreign police forces when the club played abroad. I also experienced England Internationals whilst they were played at old Tra�ord, when Wembley was being rebuilt.

Latterly, I worked with the South African Police during the 2010 World Cup. On reflection, this is an awful lot of football considering I am actually a rugby fan.

Has the situation with football-related disorder improved or worsened?I would have to say that the situation has both improved and changed. The longer-term trend shows a reduction in football related violence, although last season saw an increase of 11% compared with the previous season.

The pattern of disorder has also changed, in that it was moved from inside the grounds into surrounding areas such as public houses and transport interchanges. Do you think Football Banning Orders work?These are one of the most e�ective tools we have in tackling football- related disorder. The number of orders is around 3,500 and they enable us to target both those that engage in disorder and those responsible for organising it.

Do you think the police service is good at football policing? Is it getting better?I am a South Yorkshire police o�cer and my force remains scarred by the dreadful events of the Hillsborough Stadium disaster, but we recognise that the policing of football has vastly improved as a direct result of the Taylor Report into that disaster. I am proud of the way the police service now polices football and I would highlight that the way we police is being replicated throughout the world, often with the help and support of the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit.

Do you think the clubs and football authorities are doing enough?Since Hillsborough there has also been ‘a sea change’ in the way both clubs and the football authorities help to police supporters. This includes better stewarding, CCTV, and all-seater stadia to name just a few measures. There don’t appear to have been recent problems with England supporters abroad. Do you think we have solved that problem?I don’t think we have solved the problem, but I would accept we are now managing it more e�ectively. This in the main has been due to use of Football Banning Orders which prevent the small minority, who are intent on disorder, from travelling abroad.

The last two World Cups went well. Is that down to international cooperation between police?The success of the last two World Cups – at least in relation to preventing disorder – was due to a number of factors, including e�ective police

GUEST COLUMNIST

Football policing – the ACPO viewT/Deputy Chief Constable Andy Holt is the lead for the Association of Chief Police O�cers (ACPO) for football policing. The Line put some questions to him about the current state of football disorder and policing across Britain.

SCOTTISH FOOTBALL HAS ITS OWN BRAND OF DISORDERWhen Hearts supporters sang sectarian songs during their match against Celtic in May, it wasn’t that unusual. But when one of them attacked the Celtic Manager, Neil Lennon, people started to take notice

It was an act of violence that highlighted a particular problem in Scottish football. Sectarian abuse and violence is nothing new, indeed it has a history going back over 100 years.

E�orts have been made to address sectarianism before: in 2003 a law was introduced to allow additional penalties for o�ences aggravated by sectarian hatred.

Traditionally, it has been seen as an Old Firm problem. Glasgow’s two big clubs, Rangers and Celtic, have been a focus for sectarian rivalry, with the former seen largely as a standard bearer for Protestants, whilst the latter has mostly Catholic support.

But that is not the whole picture as Temporary Superintendent Dave Marshall told the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee in recent evidence.

“It is also important to realise that o�ensive sectarian behaviour is not restricted to supporters of Rangers and Celtic, or indeed the west of Scotland,” he told the panel of MSPs. The committee was looking at the proposed O�ensive Behaviour at Football

“Sadly it is our experience that it can be seen to some extent in supporters from other football clubs in Scotland, and we must be allowed to deal with the minority of fans in a consistent manner.”

and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill, due to pass into law early next year with broad cross-party support.

“We welcome the introduction of any new legislation which supports our existing robust policing of all forms of hate crime, including sectarian related, perpetrated by so-called football supporters travelling on Scotland’s rail network,” said T/Supt Marshall.

“We particularly welcome those provisions in the proposed legislation which capture supporters travelling on the rail network and who choose to conduct themselves in this manner during match days, whether it is their intention to attend the actual game or not. What really matters is that this type of behaviour remains unacceptable and must be challenged.”

Whilst Scotland is certainly no worse for football disorder than other parts of Britain, sectarianism is a particular concern.

In 2010/11, BTP’s Scottish Area recorded 29 sectarian crimes, compared with an annual average of 19 since 2006/07.

Whilst incidents have increased, so have detection rates, rising from 60 per cent in 2006/07 to 79.3 per cent in 2010/11. So far this year the figure is 83.3 per cent.

First Minister Alex Salmond has made a public commitment to “eradicate” sectarianism from Scottish football, with a programme based around enforcement, intelligence, legislation and prevention. BTP’s Scottish Area is actively involved in all those elements.

To improve police use of intelligence in tackling disorder, the Scottish Government set up the Joint Action Group, which includes both Rangers and

“There’s a lot of experience and expertise on these issues within forces, so it makes sense to bring that together,”

Celtic as well as the Scottish Football Association and police, back in March.

Also, before the start of this season, a National Football Policing Unit was set up for Scotland. BTP is represented on the Unit by Constable Stephen Hughes from the Area Intelligence Bureau. The Unit aims to help the Scottish police service to co-ordinate football intelligence and support post-match investigations. “There’s a lot of experience and expertise on these issues within forces, so it makes sense to bring that together,”

said PC Hughes. “I think BTP can not only bring a great deal to the table, but also get a great deal out of it in terms of impacting on football disorder.” Partnership, as with all policing work, is fundamental to success. All Scottish Premier League clubs, and several First Division clubs, have signed up to an information-sharing protocol that can see o�enders facing additional punitive sanctions from clubs.

Enforcement alone will not root out the problem, however. The Scottish Government has committed funding to charities working with young people to help shift perceptions and beliefs.

BTP is helping with this, working closely with the Glasgow based charity Nil By Mouth, which was established in 2000 to engage young people on issues around sectarianism.

cooperation. I now find that one of my key tasks with foreign forces is managing their expectations with regard to the behaviour of England fans. Foreign forces often want to police England fans on the reputation they acquired in the 1980s, and it is my job to try to ensure England fans are policed in a justifiable and proportionate manner.

What is the role of the UKFPU? Is it developing?UKFPU has been central to delivering the improvements we have seen in the policing of football. It is a central point for both intelligence and expertise. The work the Unit does in policing England fans abroad and in supporting other countries in training their own police and stewards is key in spreading the UK policing model for football.

Are there any changes in police powers or the law you think are needed?I am broadly happy with current police powers and legislation. My focus is to ensure we do not see any degradation in our powers or legislation. There are those that would seek to repeal the legislation on Football Banning Orders and, as I have said, I believe these to be essential.

DCC Andy Holt is a former Royal Marines o�cer and independent businessman.

He joined Greater Manchester Police in 1986, progressing through the ranks to become Chief Superintendent. In 2006, he joined South Yorkshire Police as Assistant Chief Constable responsible for Specialist Operations.

4 THE LINE THE MAGAZINE OF BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE ISSUE 18, OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2011 THE LINE 5

•Football Banning Orders can be imposed for between three and 10 years

•After two thirds of the term, an individual can apply to have the ban rescinded

•In England and Wales, there are over 3,200 banning orders in force – with around 1,000 new ones imposed each year

•FBOs are civil legislation, so hearsay evidence can be used

•Last season BTP obtained 67 new banning orders and helped local police gain 11 more

•It is not necessarily the big clubs or the big games where problem fans cause trouble. Many small, even non-league, clubs have risk supporters and pre-season friendlies, particularly before the 2010/11 season for instance, can see disorder.

CURFEW AND BAN FOR LEEDS FAN

Forty-five year old Andrew Lintin was in Middlesbrough following his team’s game at the Riverside Stadium in October last year. He pushed through a police cordon and assaulted a Boro’ fan before running o�.

Lintin was later identified and summonsed to court where he pleaded not guilty, changing his plea days before the trial began.

As well as the football banning order, the Leeds fan was given a four month home detention curfew, active each Friday and Saturday between 10pm and 6am, and ordered to pay £200 costs.

A Leeds United fan who punched and kicked a rival supporter has been given a three year football banning order and a home curfew after being convicted at Teesside Magistrates’ Court

•Two football fans from

Rotherham who brawled on

a platform at a London Tube

station were banned from

football matches in England

and Wales for three years

in September.

•Six other Rotherham fans

were handed suspended

sentences and community

service orders for their part

in the disorder at King’s

Cross last year.

DID YOU KNOW?

or sheri� is familiar with, so we can help ensure the court understands their powers and all the issues.” FBOs are not suitable for all individuals: first time o�enders, who perhaps have too much to drink and start to fight, may be dealt with using o�cial cautions, conditional cautions or Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs). If they become a problem later, the evidence of a caution or PND is used to back up a banning application.

FBOs are personalised, with banning conditions adjusted for each individual. BTP usually asks courts to ban risk fans from using the London Underground or railways on football days anywhere in Britain to stop them following their teams away.

Keeping disorderly and violent fans away from matches is the best way of dealing with football disorder.

“There is no doubt that Football Banning Orders (FBOs) work if they are targeted at the right individuals.

“In any one club on average, there may be a risk group of anything between 20 and 50. The police know them, security and stewards know them, so it is pretty di�cult to get away with breaching a ban.” The Home O�ce agrees. “Banning orders are extremely successful,” said a spokesman.

“The vast majority of people who commit football disorder are genuine and passionate football supporters. The orders work because they stop fans from doing the thing they love most – attending a football match. By the time their order expires, their behaviour has usually transformed.”

The Home O�ce estimates that 92 per cent of people no longer pose a risk after completing banning orders.

FBOs can be imposed across Britain – the system is almost identical in England and Wales, and Scotland.

One route to obtaining an FBO is if someone is convicted of a football related o�ence – it’s known as a ‘relevant’ o�ence and covers a wide range of violence, public disorder and more. In that case, a court must impose an FBO if it believes that would help prevent future football violence or disorder.

Dan Hursit, whose post is funded by the Home O�ce’s UK Football Policing Unit, deals mostly with the second route to obtaining an FBO – on complaint.

“It’s very like a preventative Anti-Social Behaviour Order and we go about getting it in the same way.

“An individual is usually referred on

by Football Intelligence O�cers and we then put together a file of evidence. That involves contacting local police to see what they know, researching reports from the intelligence system, spotters, arrests, crimes, stops and custody – anything where the person has come to police attention.

“Sometime we can get some really good information from rail sta�: they know the local troublemakers and provide us with useful statements.

“And we’re not just looking for football related information – if we can show the court that someone is generally a violent or disorderly individual, as well as being a football hooligan, that counts.”

The result is a file that can be more than an inch thick. Copies have to be made for the defence – sanitised to protect any intelligence sources or operationally sensitive information – and three for the courts.

“We try to give the courts the file well in advance, sometimes weeks, so the judge or magistrate has time to read through the evidence,” says Dan.

Where possible an FIO from BTP or the local force, or Dan himself, will attend the court hearing to assist the CPS or Crown O�ce. “It’s not necessarily a procedure that every lawyer, magistrate

The mix of teams playing in this season’s Championship is making that league particularly challenging for policing, says PC Dan Hursit, BTP’s Football Banning Order O�cer

“Even if someone is banned from matches, they may still be tempted to travel with the other fans and become involved in disorder before or after the game. Most disorder now occurs away from stadiums,” explains Dan.

Few applications for FBOs are contested; when they are it is mostly only to challenge the conditions being imposed.

“We’ve lost two in over three years,” says Dan. “They had very good

barristers who were able to convince the court that

their clients’ human rights shouldn’t

be restricted.”Contesting an FBO

could be expensive, as BTP can recover costs, which could amount to thousands of pounds, if the defendant loses.

“We are very upfront with people,” says Dan.

“We show them the volume of

evidence we have collected, so they

pretty much know they are going to get banned.”

Where a club’s hooligan element is causing problems,

BTP will target a number of individuals within the group.

That can have a significant e�ect on a club’s risk profile

and the policing level for future matches, so saving much needed police time and money.

“We can eliminate disorder for a time – until the next generation comes through,” says Dan.

“Nationally we ban about 1,000 people a year, but given the more than 30 million people who attend matches every season, it’s a tiny minority – albeit a minority that can have a seriously damaging e�ect.”

“It’s not necessarily a procedure that every lawyer, magistrate or sheri� is familiar with, so we can help ensure the court understands their powers and all the issues.”

ISSUE 18, OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2011 THE LINE 76 THE LINE THE MAGAZINE OF BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE

RFF AND FOOTBALL DESK LEADPaula Durrans, Security Manager for First Great Western, has taken over as chairman of the Rail Football Forum (RFF)The RFF runs under the auspices of the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) and brings together football and rail organisations, alongside BTP. It is a high level body that aims to improve the experience of football fans travelling by rail as well as to take a strategic view of how to deal with troublemakers amongst travelling supporters.

“This is an important forum for us,” says Central Operations Superintendent Je� Boothe, BTP’s RFF representative.

“It’s an opportunity to influence organisations who can help us achieve our objectives. In the past we have tried with individual clubs and many have been receptive, but others hold the view that anything that happens outside their stadiums is not their issue.

“We are trying to persuade everyone involved that the activity of a small minority stains the reputation of individual clubs and the national game.

“The Forum also allows us to listen and learn from partners and find new areas of cooperation to smooth the journeys of fans and deter anti-social behaviour.”

BTP’s Central Operations Department has set up a small football desk to coordinate events and intelligence. It consists of Sergeant Nick Cross, PC Barry Vasselin, PC Peter Kingham and a fourth o�cer, PC Dan Hursit (see pages 6/7), who deals with banning orders and is funded by the UK Football Policing Unit (see panel).

“The desk is giving us better focus and coordination between BTP and partners, including the TOCs,” says Superintendent Boothe. “Particularly in coordinating local Football Intelligence O�cers’ activity and providing consistent, useful intelligence products for event commanders.

“By getting better at intelligence and intelligence sharing, we will get better at deploying resources where they are really needed and achieve much greater value for money.”

Coordination of a ports operation has been an early success for the football desk, who helped bring together BTP, Brussels police, the Metropolitan and West Midlands forces in a successful operation in October when Birmingham City were away to Club Brugge, Celtic were at Rennes and Chelsea had a home game against Belgium club Genk.“In the longer term,” says Superintendent Boothe, “the football desk will help us forge a joint strategy with TOCs and improve the information flow both ways. I think we

are missing out on information from rail sta� at the moment that would help us be much more e�ective.“From our side we also need to be more robust about arrests. Sometimes issuing Penalty Notices for Disorder is a good resolution to low level incidents, but we must make sure that troublemakers are disrupted by being taken into custody first.

“If they miss matches, and particularly if train operators start to refuse them travel once they have been arrested, that will send out a strong message.”

“By getting better at intelligence and intelligence sharing, we will get better at deploying resources where they are really needed and achieve much greater value for money.”

The UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) was established in November 2005 following a Government review of the funding and delivery of football policing.

UKFPU is a frontline Home O�ce unit jointly overseen with the Association of Chief Police O�cers. It has a number of statutory functions and provides a framework for policing football matches at home and abroad.

WHAT IS THE UKFPU?“The Forum also allows us to listen and learn from partners and find new areas of cooperation to smooth the journeys of fans and deter anti-social behaviour.”

The three month trial involves East Coast sta� completing a proforma to capture basic details needed by police following minor incidents, such as byelaw o�ences, including verbal abuse, and low level public order o�ences where no violence is alleged.

Inspector Glen Alderson is overseeing the trial: “When a minor incident occurs on a train and police are called, o�cers have needed to spend time taking basic details. Whilst it is vital for these details to be captured, it can cause delays.”

The form is completed by sta� before police arrive and it is hoped will allow o�cers to release the train more quickly.•In a separate initiative,

the North Eastern Area brought together more than 45 senior police o�cers and sta� from local forces across the region in the first seminar of its kind.

INITIATIVES TO CUT DISRUPTION

The seminar, supported by Network Rail, aimed to raise awareness of how railway policing sometimes di�ers from the approach taken by local forces. It also looked at the impact of disruption and delays on the network.

Network Rail’s Route General Manager Warrick Dent explained the company’s roles and responsibilities, whilst Inspector Brian Buddo gave a detailed outline of the issues that a�ect BTP and led a discussion on how local forces could help minimise disruption.

Network Rail security and planning specialist Richard Davies provided an overview on rail incident protocols and safety.

“It is really encouraging to see so many attendees who place the same sense of commitment and importance on minimising and avoiding disruption to the railway as we do.”, said Acting Superintendent Dave Oram.

East Coast and BTP are trialling a new form they hope will help cut down the time trains are held by police following an incident

Ten volunteers, from a cross-section of backgrounds, communities and diversity groups, were chosen from the large number that applied.

Leeds based Inspector Tracy Metcalf set up the scheme. “We wanted members of the public to become more involved in advising us on policing of the railways in the North East, and constructively evaluate BTP’s policies and procedures,” she said.

“BTP already has a National Independent Advisory Group (NIAG) but we wanted to develop an area-based group. We had an overwhelming response from a really wide range of people.

“They will provide feedback to us, and be able to challenge us when they don’t think we are getting things right.”

Panel member Jim Kerr from Wakefield is an active member of the local community.

“I was keen to volunteer to be involved,” he said. “It’s often hard for members of the public to express their opinions, or provide feedback on policing, which usually takes place after the event and often when something goes wrong! However the panel will provide a great opportunity for us to be proactive, advise and have our say, which is great news.”

“They will provide feedback to us, and be able to challenge us when they don’t think we are getting things right.”

BTP’s North Eastern Area launched its own Citizen’s Panel in September to be a voice for the community

NORTH EAST PANEL IS COMMUNITY VOICE

ISSUE 18, OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2011 THE LINE 98 THE LINE THE MAGAZINE OF BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE

Does everyone ask you what club you support?Actually, most people outside the job don’t know what I do, but those who do know I’m a Chelsea supporter. I have been since 1972, although I’m more likely to go and watch Stevenage these days.

Doesn’t your job put you o� the game?You do see the less attractive side of the game, but, and I know everyone says this, you have to remember they are a minority. Those are the people we are trying to deter in order to make the game better for everyone.

What do you most like about your job?The variety of people you deal with – within the rail industry, football and amongst the fans.

What is the worst thing?The paperwork doesn’t get any easier! I realise the importance of doing the risk assessments and all the rest of it, but I’m happiest when I’m organising operations or actually out there achieving something.

Which are the clubs with the worst hooligans?That can change from season to season, but it’s often not the big clubs as many people assume. Some small, even non-league, clubs cause problems, mostly anti-social behaviour type incidents, often fuelled by alcohol, and that can be di�cult to police.

Are England supporters worse than any other country’s?No. Football Banning Orders and the membership scheme has meant that travelling England supporters are now well behaved. They still carry with them that reputation though, which means that they can sometimes be badly treated. We have to educate our colleagues in other countries.

If you could, what’s the one thing you would do to improve football policing? I think make banning orders more flexible. Currently, they have to be for at least three years, and Magistrates sometimes take some persuading that is proportionate for some low level incidents. I think if the courts could impose 1 year orders, that would help.

60 second interview

OBITUARY – DIANA LAMPLUGH

Mrs Lamplugh was formerly Director of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, a charity she ran with her husband Paul and which she set up in 1986 following the disappearance of her daughter. Suzy was a 25 year old estate agent in London who disappeared in July that year after keeping an appointment with an unknown client.

The mystery of Suzy’s disappearance was never solved and she was eventually declared dead in 1994.

“Diana Lamplugh was a charismatic and determined campaigner and served on the then Police Committee during a very turbulent time for BTP and the rail industry,” said ACC Alan Pacey. “She had remarkable access to Government ministers and fought our corner on more than one occasion. She was a remarkable lady and our condolences go to her husband, Paul.”

Diana Lamplugh died on 18 August 2011 aged 75.

Sergeant Nick Cross heads up the Central Operations Department’s newly created football desk. He has an in depth knowledge of football policing having previously worked in the Area Intelligence Bureau of the London Underground Area and on secondment at the UK Football Policing Unit for over four years and been posted as a liaison o�cer in Germany during the 2006 World Cup.

Do you think the situation is getting better or worse?It’s clear that serious, organised violence has declined, but the low level anti-social behaviour and drunkenness is probably worse.

What do you like doing outside of work?I like to play some cricket and cycle a bit. I do watch some football, but it’s mostly Stevenage rather than Chelsea nowadays.

That can change from season to season, but it’s often not the big clubs as many people assume. Some small, even non-

the London Underground Area and on secondment at the UK Football

It is with regret that we report the death of Diana Lamplugh OBE, tireless campaigner in the field of personal safety and independent member of the British Transport Police Committee for ten years from 1993.

“ It’s clear that serious, organised violence has declined…”

What is the issue?The London Underground network is an extensive mass transit system with some 270 stations spread right across the capital. Crime on the Underground is at a low level having fallen for five successive years and by 27 per cent since 2007.

Traditional approaches, such as intelligence-led policing, may have their limits, so to help reduce crime even more, BTP’s L Area turned to academics from Cambridge University for some new ideas.

What did you do?An experimental scheme has been set up under the name of Operation Beck (see panel). The joint project between L Area and Cambridge University is running for six months and is trialling a cutting edge patrolling technique that is claimed to be able to reduce crime by up to 20 per cent.

The operation is part of research by criminology academics Professor Lawrence Sherman and Dr Barak Ariel to provide empirical evidence of how targeted police patrols can impact on crime.

Statistics for violence and other “hard crime” are used to identify hotspots, where targeted deterrence patrols are then focussed. O�cers are also given a timeline to follow to move quickly between hotspots.

Research suggests that a 15 minute visit is the optimum time to spend at a location to achieve maximum visibility and impact.

What has happened? Under Operation Beck, 20 o�cers are working from Wednesday to Saturday patrolling between 1pm and 11pm. They can cover four or five stations each day.

“Hotspots are defined as very small, focussed areas,” explains Dr Ariel. “A town isn’t a hotspot, but a platform can be. If a police o�cer is standing on a platform, everyone is going to be aware of it.”

Dr Ariel is also confident that this type of hotspot patrol will not simply result in displacement of crime.

“A lot of people worry that you might start to see displacement – crime moving from one hotspot to a new area – but research has shown us that this doesn’t happen.

“Instead you get a di�usion of benefits: stations near to the hotspots will also see a reduction in crime rates.”

What next?Inspector Keith Webb leads on Operation Beck for BTP. “It’s a move from intelligence-based policing to evidence-based policing,” he said.

“By the end of six months, we are looking to have some hard evidence about the impact of having o�cers visible at platforms. It’s an experiment, so we don’t know for certain it will work, but everyone’s been engaged and we’re excited to see the results.”

Chief Superintendent Mark Newton is in charge of policing on the Tube and is keen for his o�cers to be at the cutting edge of policing science.

“The method has had success in America but this is the first time it will be trialled on a transport network.

“We have had some positive feedback from the o�cers involved so far, and thanks must go to Inspector Keith Webb and Sergeants Keith Johnson and Fiona Wynn for their hard work managing the project.”

Deterring crime at hotspots

BECK ON THE TUBE

CASE STUDY

Operation Beck is named after Harry Beck, creator of the classic London Tube map first published in 1933.

Harry worked as a draughtsman for London Underground, but it was in his spare time that he came up with the concept for the schematic, non-geographic map of the ever more complex network.

Designed in 1931, the map is based on the concept of an electrical circuit diagram.

10 THE LINE THE MAGAZINE OF BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE ISSUE 18, OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2011 THE LINE 11

the man in the tunnel, but owing to his sheer physical size and the cocktail of drink and drugs he had consumed, he was able to resist arrest.

The police dog was deployed in a further attempt to arrest him, and during the ensuing struggle the man and o�cers were bitten. He was finally restrained, but PC Webster su�ered a fractured wrist in the process.

Special Constables are unpaid volunteers and Mark Walder is a financial consultant in his day job. Commenting after the ceremony, he said: “When you’re called to deal with an incident like this we know that as police o�cers the buck stops with us and that we are there to protect the public above all else.

“PC Webster and I were simply doing our job that evening.”

When violence erupts, it’s easy to walk on by, but that’s not the sort of person 20-year-old Jake Farr from Hayes is.

He was at Slough station in June 2009, when a group of a dozen drunken men returning from Ascot followed some fellow racegoers onto an overbridge where a large scale fight broke out.

As punches flew, one woman was kicked to the ground. Jake heard a scream.

“I’d spotted the group at Windsor earlier and thought I’d keep out of their way as they were drunk,” he said.

“At Slough station, I was on the bridge when I heard one of the women screaming in fear; I’ve never heard anything like that before.

“My family have always brought me up to respect women and I just knew at that moment that I had to go and help. I didn’t stop to think about the situation I was putting myself in; I just knew I had to step in.”

Jake was punched and elbowed in the face but continued to try and calm the situation. When the fight ended a short while later, he waited for police o�cers and gave a statement.

At court, he was subjected to extensive cross-examination, but continued to answer questions from all six barristers with courtesy. As a result four men were convicted and jailed.

One woman giving evidence described Jake as a hero, and the judge also commended him for his courage.

“Jake’s actions were selfless, public-spirited and those of a very brave and courageous young man,” said Chief Constable Andy Trotter.

“It is also brave police o�cers and PCSOs like those commended here that make the British police service what it is and keep our communities safe.

“I am very proud to serve alongside o�cers such as these.”

ISSUE 18, OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2011

theLine

COURAGE IN THE FACE OF VIOLENCEA Police Community Support O�cer, two police o�cers and a young man of 20 were amongst heroes honoured at a commendation ceremony at BTP HQ in October PCSO Stewart McKenna is commended by BTP Chief Constable Andy Trotter

On an evening in early March this year, o� duty PCSO Stewart McKenna saw a man being attacked by a Pit Bull Terrier in Dartford, Kent.

Exhausted and with serious arm and hand injuries, the man lost control of the dog he pinned down for some 20 minutes. As the dog returned to the attack, PCSO McKenna placed himself between him and the dog, preventing further injury, but himself sustaining severe bite injuries to his legs and hands. Stewart restrained the dog for another 30 minutes before help arrived.

It was April 2010 when PC Stephen Webster and Special Constable Mark Walder were called to St Leonards Warrior Square station in Sussex after reports that a violent man was on the tracks.

The man smashed a window on a stationary train and ran into the tunnel linking St Leonards Warrior Square and Hastings stations.

With a Sussex Police dog handler the o�cers cornered