The British transport police leaving home project: the impact of the transfer of BTP D division into Police Scotland on officers and staff

In November 2014 the Smith Commission recommended that the functions of the BTP in Scotland should be a devolved matter. Responsibility for railway policing in Scotland subsequently passed from the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) under the Railway Policing (Scotland) Act 2017. At the time of writing it is expected that railway policing in Scotland will transfer to Police Scotland in April 2019.

This research project investigates the impact of integration on BTP officers and staff in Scotland, exploring issues of organisational identity, community, and attachment. The project also amplifies the voices of BTP officers and staff during a contested period of organisational change. This academic research is independent and does not rely on any funding. Assistance, however, was provided by the BTP Federation in relation to accessing participants. The research has full ethical approval from the University of the West of Scotland.