Feasibility of the integration of British Transport Police (BTP) into Police Scotland: FOI release

In November 2014 the Smith Commission published its report detailing Heads  of  Agreement  on further devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament. This included the  statement that:  “The  functions of the British Transport Police in Scotland will be a devolved matter”.

The Scotland Act 2016 conferred upon the Scottish Parliament powers over the policing of railways and railway property in Scotland, giving effect to the recommendation of the Smith Commission.

Scottish Ministers intended to use these powers to integrate BTP officers and civilian staff into Police cotland and wished to hear the views of key stakeholders on the best way to do this via a consultation.

• Costs incurred in the consultation into the feasibility of the integration of British Transport Police (BTP) into Police Scotland

The Scottish Government published a written consultation document ‘The Integration of the British Transport Police in Scotland into Police Scotland’. The cost of publication of the consultation paper was  £347.01  plus  £69.40  VAT.  The  paper  was  published  by APS  Group Scotland.

Analysis of the written responses to consultation was carried out by The Research Shop at a cost of £4750 exclusive of VAT. You can view the ‘Consultation on the Integration of the British Transport Police in Scotland into Police Scotland: An Analysis of Responses’ report online: https://consult.gov.scot/police-division/transport-police/results/consultation-on-the-integration-of-the- british-transport-police-in-scotland-into-police-scotland-an-analysis-of-responses.pdf

• the time spent on the consultation

The Scottish Government published ‘The Integration of the British Transport Police in Scotland into Police Scotland’ on 29 June 2016 inviting views by 24 August 2016. The analysis of responses was published  on  14  December  2016.

The Scottish Government actively engaged with key stakeholders including the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA), Scottish Police Authority (SPA), BTP, Police Scotland, officer and staff associations and representatives, Network Rail, rail operators, the railway industry, the UK Government Department for Transport, the Office for Rail and Road, and Transport Focus.

Members of the public were also welcome to respond to this consultation.

137 responses to the consultation were received, 107 from individuals and 30 from organisations. 99 respondents gave permission for their answers to be published. However all responses were included in the analysis. You can view the answers from respondents who gave permission here: https://consult.gov.scot/police-division/transport-police/consultation/published_select_respondent

• the number of police / government staff involved in the consultation the
• rank / grade of the persons involved

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold some of the information you have requested.

Section 17(1) of FOISA (information not held) requires the Scottish Government to notify you if it does not have the information you requested.

Staffing costs relating to the Consultation were absorbed within overall Scottish Government resource planning. The Scottish Government regularly reprioritises staff in order to meet Programme for Government commitments. Additionally, staff are rarely assigned to one single project, meaning we are unable to calculate precise costs.