How many train passengers realise the British Transport Police may have similar problems to the emergency services, namely a lack of emergency resources and funding (The Argus, July 24)?

Recently, at a Southern England Rail Passengers' Committee meeting, I mentioned policing our railways in co-operation with local police.

Should the British Transport Police be funded by the new Strategic Rail Authority and train companies or should funding be similar to the local police service, open to public scrutiny?

Whichever, they deserve our praise and help. They have a huge task, including vandalism causing potential fatalities, passenger violence, contract labour, crime, drug traffic, night trains, unmanned stations, fraud, the Fatboy Slim event and crowd control on Saturday nights.

Are the British Transport Police underfunded, understaffed, under-equipped and underpaid?

Some road transport has satellite surveillance. This should already be a minimum security measure on today's rail network.

-John Stanaway, Lorna Road, Hove