Abstract
This article takes the form of a critique of the government implementation of the new statutory accountability of British Transport Police (BTP). It starts with a brief review of why the role of BTP is important to the public and how the force interacts with other forces (including wider concerns about rail safety and responsibility of rail companies to the law through development of the law of corporate manslaughter). The article also considers whether current developments over policing the railways are influenced by the increasing national coordination of policing and whether national or local coordination or control of police should be increased and what legal issues arise. This is particularly debated with regard to controversy over police numbers, and touching on other non-Home Office forces such as Ports Police, as well as the role of Special Branch. An evaluation of the changes on powers and jurisdiction for the BTP in the recent anti-terrorist legislation is also included, in comparison with the extended powers and jurisdiction for UK Atomic Energy Authority and Ministry of Defence police. As with the author's previous work many localised examples are given to give a real picture to the legal issues raised.
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