British Transport Police have revealed that its 61016 text number has received more than 668,000 messages from members of the public and rail staff in the past ten years.

The 61016 service has celebrated its tenth birthday. BTP launched the 61016 text service in 2013 to give anyone reporting a crime the option to text instead of calling the police in a non-emergency situation.

A decade after it started, a text is now received every two minutes into the force’s contact centre during daytime hours. In 2022 alone, the force received texts relating to 472 reports of sexual harassment, 540 incidents involving a sexual offence, 573 hate crimes and 434 reports of theft.

The force states that in the last ten years, it has “apprehended numerous criminals, secured countless convictions, made life saving interventions, disrupted serious organised crime and even dismantled county lines operations all because of vital intelligence submitted via the service.”

Text messages from the service go straight through to BTP’s Force Contact Centre, the same as a phone call. Dispatchers are then able to deal with the message, sending officers to the location if needed.

Text 61016 scenarios have included:

• In December last year, three men were arrested following numerous texts sent to us from passengers reporting a violent assault on board a train.
• A text from a woman who was being sent indecent images via air drop on a train resulted in an offender being arrested.
• Intelligence received from a member of the public ultimately led to a prolific sex offender being identified and jailed.
• A text report of a man with white powder on a train resulted in officers being deployed and the man searched, and found to be carrying stolen property linked to a burglary and a firearm. He was arrested for multiple offences and jailed.

But not every text the services receive requires the BTP to act, with some sent by accident, some expressing support for rail workers’ strikes, and some described as “just plain odd”. They include:

• I’m sorry, Siri texted you
• I fully support the rail workers. Best wishes to you all!
• My key card is not working I need a replacement card. Please can you assist.
• Sorry not the service I needed!

The text number is now complemented by the Railway Guardian app, launched last year, the only police-supported safety app available in the UK. Similar to the text number, all reports made via the app go straight to the BTP control room. Officers across the country can then be deployed to the nearest or next stop if required. Its geographical location option also allows the public to share their journey with loved ones. The app also offers advice and keeps the user up to date with the latest news and updates from British Transport Police.

Both are used for non-emergency calls to service. In an emergency, people should always call 999.

Assistant Chief Constable Charlie Doyle said: “We wanted to provide rail users with a discreet way to contact us while travelling and share concerns, information or request police assistance during their journeys. The 61016 text service provided this, and offered an easy and convenient way to seek assistance whilst using the railway.

“61016 was the first and only service of its kind in the UK – and since 2013, BTP has received 668,000 texts.”

ACC Doyle added: “A massive thanks to everyone who has saved the text number into their phone, used it to report something or even spread the word about the number to their friends and family.”

“If you haven’t already, please do save the number in your phone. We hope you never need it but that means it’s to hand if you – or a fellow passenger – ever does.”