PLANNED cuts to the British Transport Police (BTP) will seriously endanger passengers and staff with “reduced or non-existent police response on much of the network,” rail union RMT warned today.

The £8.5 million funding shortfall facing BTP this year could result in the closure of 13 police stations and the loss of about 600 posts, including 200 filled roles.

Staff working at stations and onboard trains already report regular verbal abuse, threats, and physical assault, with planned cuts in Scotland “so severe that large swathes of the country will have little to no BTP coverage whatsoever.”

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “These cuts will severely impact the safety of rail workers and the travelling public.

“Station staff and train crews are being left to deal with violent and abusive passengers without adequate BTP support, often late at night, in isolated locations, and with no back-up.

“BTP’s own figures show a sharp rise in crime across the network, yet the response is to slash officer numbers, close stations, and disband the very unit that dealt with workplace violence. It is both outrageous and dangerous.

“The scheduled closures in Scotland are particularly worrying, with large parts of the country having no nearby BTP support.

“There was a time when BTP officers would patrol stations and trains regularly providing a sense of security for staff and passengers. Now our members report that BTP will only attend the most serious of emergencies.

“Our union opposes these reckless cuts and demands immediate action to restore BTP staffing, reinstate protection for rail workers, and ensure our members can do their jobs without fear of abuse or attack.”

BTP was contacted for comment.