Jeremy Corbyn backs calls for transport policing merger to be scrapped

Jeremy Corbyn has backed a campaign calling on the Scottish Government to drop plans to merge transport policing in Scotland with the national force.

The UK Labour leader tweeted his support for a petition by the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) urging SNP ministers to ditch the Railway Policing Bill.

The legislation, which will see British Transport Police (BTP) in Scotland subsumed into Police Scotland, will be voted on at Holyrood later today.

It passed its first hurdle at the Scottish Parliament last month despite calls from Labour and the Tories for the move to be reconsidered.

Posting a link to the petition on Twitter, Mr Corbyn said: "In the wake of recent terror attacks now's the time to strengthen not weaken our Transport Police.''

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: "Jeremy is showing he is the only party leader that gets the importance of proper policing.

"BTP is a specialist service because the railways have specialist policing needs. They are a highly-vulnerable terrorist target and Jeremy is right, we now need more specialist transport police, not less.''

The RMT, the union representing transport workers, has warned the move will put rail passengers and workers at an increased safety risk.

General secretary Mick Cash said: "The Scottish Government's proposals to abolish the British Transport Police put nationalist ideology before the safety of workers and passengers on Scotland's railways.

"RMT call on MSPs to oppose the Bill but we also back a series of amendments which will provide absolutely essential safeguards for workers and passengers, including an independent review into the effectiveness of the legislation and the full involvement of the trade unions.''

Rail operators have warned significant work must be done now to ensure a ''seamless'' transition.

Scottish Labour justice spokeswoman Claire Baker said: "The SNP has repeatedly ignored the advice of experts on the merger of British Transport Police and is intent on railroading through an expensive plan to fix a problem that doesn't exist.

"Experts from across the field, including trade unionists and BTP officers, have warned of the risks this merger places on passenger safety.

"BTP officers are trained in policing our railways and, particularly after the recent terrorist attacks, we shouldn't risk losing that expertise.''

The Scottish Government says the merger would make railway policing more accountable.

A spokesman for transport minister Humza Yousaf said: "As Police Scotland has made clear, specialist railway policing expertise and capacity will be maintained and protected within the broader structure of Police Scotland, with improved access to wider support facilities and specialist equipment, providing an enhanced service provision to the rail industry and travelling public.

"The Scottish Government has publicly committed to providing a 'triple-lock guarantee' that secures the jobs, pay and pension conditions of railway policing officers and staff in Scotland.'