King praises police who helped at train crash

The King has praised British Transport Police (BTP) for keeping rail and underground networks safe after meeting officers who dealt with last month's Bedford train crash.

Charles met a range of officers from various BTP units when he opened the force's new headquarters in central London.

Among those he spoke to was PC Dave Sheldrick, the first BTP officer on the scene after two East Midlands Railway services collided on June 19 in Elstow, near Bedford.

A total of 162 people were hurt and 102 needed hospital treatment after the incident, in which train driver Shaun Burton, 60, died.

An interim report published by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch found he was killed in the 49mph crash after passing a red signal moments before the collision.

As he unveiled a plaque to mark his visit, King Charles told the gathered staff, including BTP's Chief Constable Lucy D'Orsi, about his experience of their work.

He said: "I'm very pleased to be able to do this and, if I may say so, congratulate the whole of the British Transport Police…for remarkable efforts all the time all over this country.

"And I know from travelling for all these years what a difference they make."

As well as speaking to Sheldrick, the head of state also spoke to other BTP staff involved in the Bedford train crash, including family liaison officers.

BTP is a national special police force responsible for policing the railway network, covering more than 10,000 miles of track and more than 3,000 stations and depots across England, Wales and Scotland.

It also polices the London Underground, the Docklands Light Railway and other city metro and tram systems.

D'Orsi said to the King during her speech: "We know of your interest in our work and the challenges facing modern policing.

"We are particularly grateful for your understanding of the efforts we make every day to tackle violence against women and girls, keep passengers and railway staff safe, and keep the railway moving.

"The relationship between your family, the railway and British Transport Police stretches back more than 180 years, to Queen Victoria's first rail journey in 1842."

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