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BTP opens first regional counter terrorism hub in Birmingham

British Transport Police has opened its first regional counter terrorism unit at Birmingham New Street station, enabling police to respond more quickly to incidents and provide additional reassurance to passengers and rail staff.

BTP has recruited an initial team of firearms officers and a specialist support dog and handler who will be working alongside regular officers to protect the rail network across the Midlands. A second regional counter terrorism hub is planned for the North West later this year.

Superintendent Chris Horton, BTP Specialist Operations, said: “We want the public to be reassured that wherever they go on the rail network, we have highly trained people there to protect them if needed.

“The opening of the Midlands hub provides us with a regional base for our specialist operations teams. We have been preparing for the opening of the Midlands hub for some time so the new team is not being introduced in relation to any specific intelligence or threat. Our specialist officers are there to reassure, protect and respond to any incident should the need arise. They will be highly visible on the network and particularly around Birmingham New Street station, engaging with the public every day so people will get used to seeing them around.”

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