Driving Permits

Dear Mr Smith,

In respect of your Freedom of Information request relating to Driving
Permits, British Transport Police (BTP) can confirm the following:

1) What levels of driving permits are offered?

1. British Transport Police staff and officers may be authorised to
the following levels:

a) Basic driver status - authorised to drive Force vehicles in a non
emergency mode, for business purposes.

b) Standard Response - authorised to drive Force vehicles in both
non emergency and emergency modes (ie may use visual and audible warning
equipment to facilitate passage through traffic subject to relevant
legislation).

c) Advanced/specialist - authorised to drive higher powered and
specific specialised vehicles (eg Personnel carrier, HGV etc). It should
be noted that BTP policy is not to engage in vehicle pursuits;
consequently our advanced drivers are not authorised to conduct pursuits.

2) What do each of the driving permits allow the holder to do?

3) What training is required for each of the driving permits and how are
the candidates assessed? How long in length are the courses for each of
the respective driving permits?

4) Are any of the driving permits offered by your Force, offered in a
modular basis, (i.e. are they offered in modules of 1 week at a time until
the course is complete etc)?

2-4. Basic drivers must hold a full UK DVLA drivers licence with
less than 6 endorsement points. They are required to pass a practical
driving assessment prior to being authorised to drive Force vehicles.
They can hold an automatic only or manual & automatic licence; they will
only be authorised to drive those vehicles that they have a DVLA
entitlement to drive. There is no other training required.

Standard Response drivers are required to hold a full UK drivers licence
as above and must undertake and pass a course of instruction (usually two
weeks) at one of our NPIA accredited Police driver training schools. The
BTP is a National Force and so utilises Police driving schools on a
geographical basis.

Advanced drivers are required to fulfil the same criteria as Standard
Response drivers. Currently, only existing Standard Response drivers are
trained to Advanced level, due to the demanding nature of this course.
The Advanced course is of 3-4 weeks duration, depending on the modules
required.

5) Which of the permits are available to Special Constables?

5. Driving courses may be offered on a modular basis, dependant on
the needs of the individual and the ability of the relevant Driver
training school to deliver modular training.

6) If any modular courses are offered, are the available to Special
Constables?

6. Special Constables are a valued element of our Police family. As
such they undertake a wide variety of duties within the BTP.

Special Constables are a key resource in our High visibility and
Neighbourhood policing strategy and as such predominantly perform station
and train patrols and police sporting and scheduled major events.
Therefore there is no general requirement for our Special Constables to
undertake driving duties as a matter of course.

BTP Special Constables may be authorised to undertake specific driving
duties on an individual basis (eg a SPC who is an HGV driver is authorised
to drive the Force mobile custody unit).

Special Constables may be authorised to drive as Basic drivers at the
request of the relevant Sector Commander, where an identifiable need
exists.

Special Constables may be authorised to undertake Standard Response driver
training on the authority of the relevant Area Commander, where an
identifiable need exists.

7) How many Special Constables in your Force have driving permits which
allow them to respond (i.e. use blue lights, sirens and allowed the holder
to utilise the relevant exemptions afforded to them in law with respect of
speeding, going through red lights etc)

7. The Force does not collect data regarding the number of
Special Constables authorised to Standard Response level.

If I can be of any further assistacne, please do not hesitate to contact
me.

Regards,

Nurul Abedin

Data Protection and Freedom of Information Coordinator

Information Standards Unit

British Transport Police

25 Camden Road

London NW1 9LN

020 7830 8893

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