News Shopper caught up with British Transport Police officers from Bromley for an exclusive chat about their role in the fight against crime

News Shopper reporter Rebecca Flood got an exclusive insight into the vital role they play.

The Bromley BTP team is based at Shortlands station, and I went along to meet Sergeant Adam Hewett last Wednesday (February 25).

Being an officer since 2004, Sgt Hewett returned to the front line in April last year after suffering a nasty knee injury in 2012.

Sergeant Adam Hewett

Tucked away in an innocuous building on platform three, he explained how they work to reduce crime in their specialist area - transport.

Contrary to popular belief, they are not responsible for the roads or buses. 

I’m quite excited about going on patrol with the officers, but mid-way through the interview I realise I haven’t tapped out with my Oyster card.

Not something you want to forget when you’re in the presence of numerous transport police.

MORE TOP STORIES BTP officers and other police have exactly the same powers of arrest, but only they are certified to work in certain areas such as going onto the tracks.

He said: “Our officers are trained in personal track safety and we specialise in dealing with matters such as cross border crime which is transient from one station to another, railway fatalities and the threat of terrorism.”

One aspect of the job the BTP regularly have to deal with is a fatality on the track.

All officers carry a special kit in their vans for such an incident, and are specially trained to deal with these situations.

He said: “Unfortunately part of our role involves dealing with fatalities on the railway.

“Throughout, we're there for the dignity and respect of the person and the family.

"At the end of the day the deceased person is someone’s relative, son, daughter, brother, sister, mother or father and these incidents are probably some of the most tragic if not the most tragic for the relatives.

"We make sure we deal with these in a professional and sensitive manner.”

Just like any other officer they carry all the standard police gear; handcuffs, pepper spray and a baton.

Sgt Hewett checking the safety of bikes 

Sgt Hewett confirmed: “As police officers we have a duty to intervene in acts of criminality and it is not unusual for us to be at a railway station on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night and witness a fight or other such incident occur in a bar or club across the road.

“We deal with these matters and we have made several arrests following on from these situations.”

The Bromley team covers 27 stations across the borough including some in Lewisham.

With hundreds of thousands of commuters passing through their patch, while fare evasion is a problem, he explains their role is more to work with the community in reducing crime.

And their approach is working, with crime in the year up to February down by 30%.

Although Sgt Hewett added: “We have found that fare evasion can uncover other areas of criminality and we have been involved in arrests which have originated from fare evasion.

“For example we uncovered possession of drugs with intent to supply, a passport forgery and national insurance card forgery operation, cannabis factories and numerous other offences.”

We go out and patrol some hot spots for bicycle theft and visit Hayes, West Wickham, Eden Park, Orpington and Bromley South.

While the only crime we witnessed was a young lad who had bunked the train, Sgt Hewett says the police presence reassures the public and helps deter crime.

PC Foster has a word with the young man who evaded his fare

Just like all emergency services their remit is not just confined to trains, as the BTP get their fare share of unusual call-outs.

Sgt Hewett said: “We had a deer that lived at West Wickham, and I was once called to a report of a tortoise on the loose on the tracks near West Wickham as well.

“We were called and assisted in the search for the tortoise, who sadly could not be located.

"I have to say, I felt very sorry for the family as the tortoise was clearly a well loved pet.”