BTP’s crime reporting text service now free across all major mobile networks

British Transport Police (BTP) was the first police force to offer a non-emergency text service for reporting crime and incidents on the railway when it launched 61016 in 2013.

However, BTP decided to take action after receiving complaints about people being charged to text 61016 or being unable to contact BTP due to low or no phone credit.

It has now worked with the big four phone networks to ensure their customers are no longer charged to report a crime via the text service.

BTP says many offences that take place on the network can involve victims being in a confined space with their perpetrator, and 61016 offers a crucial reporting tool should victims need to contact the force “quickly and discreetly”.

Earlier this year, BTP Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi wrote to the four major phone networks in the UK, requesting they consider making the 61016 text service free to their customers. Three UK, Vodafone, O2 and EE all pledged to make this change, with the smaller networks starting to follow suit.

Ms D’Orsi said: “I am incredibly proud of this collaborative piece of work that will support BTP’s mission to protect the rail community and create a hostile environment for crime.

“BTP’s 61016 service is a hugely important crime reporting tool for the most vulnerable who travel and work on the rail network. Now that 61016 is free-to-text, anyone who is a victim of crime can contact BTP immediately, regardless of any restrictions on their phone contract or whether they have phone credit.

“61016 is particularly crucial to women and girls using the rail network and may feel harassed or intimidated.

“The number of non-contact sexual offences reported to BTP have almost doubled in the last two years, with many of those reports texted via 61016 and where a noticeable 999 call may have escalated the situation.”

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: “Violence against women and girls of any kind is completely unacceptable, and everyone should be safe on our transport network.

“This change to the 61016 text service is just one way in which we will achieve this, making it easier to report these crimes, leading to a safer rail network for everyone.”

David Hennessy, chief technical officer at Three UK, said: “We’re pleased to have made the 61016 text service free of charge, ensuring all Three UK customers can report incidences on the railways at no cost. This important initiative enhances safety on the rail network and we’re glad to support it.”

BTP says since the launch of 61016, it has “apprehended numerous criminals, secured countless convictions, made life-saving interventions, disrupted serious organised crime and even dismantled County Lines operations thanks to intelligence submitted via the text-reporting service”.