Commentary on Sections Part 3: Powers of British Transport Police Force Section 22: Powers of British Transport Police Force
85.Subsection (1)(a) amends section 100 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 so as to extend the jurisdiction of the British Transport Police (BTP) to the prevention of damage to property. Subsection (1)(b) removes the requirement for BTP officers to either be in uniform or able to produce a warrant card, subject to any limitations placed on them under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. It leaves however unchanged the requirement for the BTP officer, in those circumstances where their assistance has not been requested by the local force, to decide whether their immediate intervention is necessary.
86.Subsection (2) amends section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to add a reference to the Chief Officer of the BTP Force to subsection (2)(a). Section 172(2)(a) deals with the identification of drivers who commit road traffic offences. It imposes a duty on keepers of vehicles and other persons to comply with police requests for information about the identity of the person who was driving a vehicle at the time when a road traffic offence was committed.