BTP Lead 5 Day CT Exercise

Mon, 15 March 2010 Courtesy of: British Transport Police

This week, British Transport Police (BTP) is leading a five-day counter-terrorism exercise on the London Overground route between Camden Road and Kentish Town West rail stations.

The exercise, 'Operation Safe Return', will take place between Monday, 15 March and Friday, 18 March. Search officers from BTP will be undertaking a Counter Terrorism search along the track leading into Kentish Town West Station and London Overground Rail Operations Limited (LOROL) staff will be taking part in a series of related exercises at the station.

The London Overground route between the two stations is currently closed for major signalling and track renewal work, platform lengthening and station refurbishment. There will be no service between Gospel Oak and Stratford, including the stretch of track where the exercise is taking place.

“We are constantly learning from terrorist events from around the world”

Superintendent Phil Trendall of BTP's Counter Terrorism Support Unit said "The planned refurbishment of this line gives us a perfect opportunity to undertake training with our partners in a realistic railway setting.

"We are constantly learning from terrorist events from around the world and Operation Safe Return will help enable us to practice our counter terrorism procedures, making the most of up to date techniques in a real railway environment.

"There is nothing to suggest that Kentish Town West railway station is a particular target for a terrorist attack.

"As with this week's exercise, we carry out regular training and information sessions with our partners to test our current contingency plans, increase general awareness of the threats which occur on the railway and put our tried and tested procedures into action.

"Rail staff and passengers play a vital role and defeating terrorism and we would ask everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police."