Public order policing: observing a BTP Operational Support Unit training day

Chris Hobbs attends a training exercise involving a BTP unit whose skill set is much in demand in support of other forces.

It was unexpected but welcome; an invite from the highly regarded British Transport Police’s Operational Support Unit to attend one of their public order training days. It was some six years ago when, whilst out shopping in the West End, I decided to have a quick look at a Tommy Robinson protest which I knew was taking place. It became a violent event and I later put finger to keyboard to record my observations on the day’s events. I also noticed a BTP unit parked outside Charing Cross who appeared ready and more than willing to assist their beleaguered Met colleagues.

Attending other public order events as an observer for Police Oracle, I frequently encountered the OSU and became aware of how highly they are regarded by their colleagues in the Met and City of London forces.

Past experiences with the BTP

My own acquaintance with the BTP  goes back to a previous era. As a young sergeant, after performing duty at an especially problematic football match and in the wake of the Heysel Stadium disaster, I submitted a report than contained suggestions for improving policing at football matches.

One of the suggestions involved the sending of ‘spotters’ to away games; thus, officers who policed football fans on a regular basis, would travel in uniform to away matches and work with the ‘home’ officers in respect of identifying and controlling their own hooligan element. It was decided that a pilot operation would be undertaken with Chelsea and that I would pilot it together with one of four PCs who policed Chelsea on a regular basis.

Our first game was at Liverpool and it was agreed we wouldn’t travel in full uniform and leave any policing on the railway to the BTP. We were to travel up on the Chelsea ‘special’ train and were immediately welcomed and looked after by the BTP.

The ‘spotting’ was deemed a huge success by the host forces and the BTP and the following season all the major London clubs plus Millwall were to have their own travelling police ‘spotters.’ I was due to return as a Detective Sergeant to Special Branch but was delayed for a year so I could ‘coordinate’ activities.

That meant that on a Saturday, I’d change into full unform at Scotland Yard and, ‘armed’ with both a Met and BTP radio, I’d set out on the transport system before attending the highest risk game in London and then, post- match, it was back on the transport system.

During that time, I was welcomed by BTP on what is essentially, their territory. They sent me on a London Underground safety course while BTP single crewed, dog handlers often provided me with transport as we moved from one disturbance to another,

Even being bitten by a BTP dog, during a violent confrontation between Chelsea and Spurs fans at Fulham Broadway Station didn’t diminish my enthusiasm for my newly found friends. It did cause much hilarity amongst my Met colleagues, including the bosses who, however, were more than happy to endorse my report which exonerated the dog.

Everywhere I went, be it on the underground or British Rail stations I was welcomed and looked after and my admiration for the BTP has never wavered over the years.

Training in a realistic environment

So, having accepted the OSU’s invitation, as instructed I met up with BTP OSU officers together with the ‘crowd,’ outside a well-known London station that had disused underground platforms and a train. The ‘crowd’ consisted mainly of police staff volunteers but also present were uniform officers from the NCA (National Crime Agency) who were there to both observe and participate in the exercises both as police officers and the ‘crowd.’

The BTP OSU train at the Met’s world-renowned public order training centre at Gravesend but also conduct their own training in respect of the unique scenarios they are likely to encounter on the rail and underground systems.

It soon became obvious that the conductor of the day’s events was Roy; a highly respected public order instructor of considerable experience who held the attention with a mixture of precise instructions as to what was to occur and humour that had all the participants holding their sides. It was as good a delivery throughout the day, as I’ve ever heard during my decade’s long association with police, striking the right note on each occasion.

With the blessing of the ‘crowd’ I was given permission to film on my smartphone and take pictures which would be posted on ‘X’ with the proviso that the footage wouldn’t reveal police tactics some of which would be specific to the station and train environments.

The morning passed quickly and I was quite intrigued to see how the ‘crowd’ could, at the blink of an eye, change from being nice people to howling mob thus testing the officers in as realistic a way as is possible. One exercise showed rival, brawling football fans being efficiently separated and control established.

One impressive aspect of the training exercises that stood out, was the fact that officers could use significantly aggressive tactics which were, nevertheless, unlikely to cause injury to the disorderly mob.

‘Ambo’s’ join the exercise

A number of other scenarios followed including protecting VIPs, dealing with protesters and the day’s training concluded with a mass casualty event on the train. An ambulance crew had, by this time, joined us and initially had become part of the crowd during the public order incidents which would of course be useful to them should they find themselves in a maelstrom of disorder both above and below ground.

They came into their own during the mass casualty event where officers assisted in providing rapid assessments of the injured. Some of the more ‘seriously injured’ were removed from the scene using ‘blanket’ stretchers clearly designed for this sort of event. The expertise of the LAS crew involved was clearly obvious as was the able assistance rendered by the OSU officers.

During the training day, a real emergency

Perhaps however, the most telling event, took place away from the training day. We had been dismissed for lunch which saw a dispersal to the abundance of eateries in the area. Shortly after, however, an announcement came over the station public address system for any BTP officer at the station to attend platforms 3/4.

I made my way and was overtaken by a couple of OSU officers. The reason for the call soon became clear: a young male was seated on the platform staring blankly into space. He had been found by staff on the tracks and there were concerns that he was suicidal.

It was clear he had severe mental health issues as officers began to speak to him. More officers attended in response to the call, but it was left to those who initially arrived to try and communicate with him. Observing from an unobtrusive distance, it was clear that the male concerned was being treated with kindness, compassion and respect.

He was eventually coaxed to his feet and gently led away to a station first-aid office which hopefully would be the beginning of a journey of recovery. During the course of the day, I posted the word ‘brilliant’ twice; this was the second occasion.

I was later told by officers, that incidents on the railway involving those in crisis is a frequent occurrence and will normally require police attendance because of the life-threatening hazards involved. Perhaps this facet of BTP work is one that could be placed in the public domain with a greater degree of frequency given the expertise, care and compassion that is required.

“An exceptional unit”

All in all, my day spent with the OSU confirmed my view that they are an exceptional unit whose expertise, professionalism and indeed humanity, is exemplary. As alluded to above, I know they are highly regarded by the Met’s Territorial Support Group and City Police Task Force equivalents. Their reputation was enhanced still further when they travelled northwards to provide ‘urgent assistance’ to other beleaguered forces at the height of the riots.

There are many ‘fly on the wall’ police documentaries currently being shown on TV channels at present and, given their popularity, are an effective counter to the damaging, constant denigration that can be found within much of the MSM and across social media.

Producers casting their net for future policing projects would do well see whether the force and its OSU officers would be willing to participate in a documentary series or even just a ‘one off’ production.

It would certainly make for fascinating viewing.

Category: OpsPublic Order