On the lookout for rail police

Extra eyes and ears will be helping British Transport Police to investigate crimes or suspicious activity on the rail network.

BTP is joining forces with First Rail Support co-ordinators to increase the flow of intelligence.

The co-ordinators, who oversee rail replacement buses at stations across the region, will work for BTP in a new scheme called FirstWatch.

Chief Supt Peter Holden, area commander for BTP in the North-West, said: “The value of good quality community intelligence cannot be overestimated and adding the eyes and ears of the First Rail co-ordinators will be beneficial in ensuring that we maintain an accurate overview of what is happening across the rail network.

“The co-ordinators will be ideally placed to assist police in other ways such as keeping a lookout for missing people.”