Former Deputy Chief Constable of the British Transport Police Andy Trotter told GB News presenter Michael Portillo that disorder on trains “isn’t that rare”.
In the immediate aftermath of the horrific attack, the police arrested two British nationals within eight minutes of the first 999 call.
Lauding the “exemplary” response by emergency services, Michael commented that their colleagues will be “drawing some satisfaction”, despite the horrific events.
In agreement, Mr Trotter heaped praise onto his former colleagues, declaring the response to be “very good” during a “horrific, awful and terrifying” incident.
The pair praised both passengers and emergency services for their rapid response
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GB NEWS
“It was obviously an extremely good place to stop the train,” Michael said, mentioning that the force’s building is “very close” to Huntingdon train station.
“I think it was an extraordinarily good planning on for that evening in the way that the organisations work together,” Mr Trotter concurred.
During the event, the passengers, train driver, Network Rail, the British Transport Police, Cambridgeshire Police and the East of England Ambulance Service worked “very well”, he added.
“But whilst this one went very, very well, I often reflect about, had that been in a much more rural location, the attendance times would of course been very different.”
But the ex-Deputy Chief Constable highlighted that Britons might reflect on what this means when they board a “particularly late train, where there might be disorder through drink, drugs or crime or whatever”.
“Whilst this particular type of event is thankfully very rare, disorder on trains isn’t that rare.
“And I think one of the things people will be thinking about is how vulnerable you are when you’re stuck on a train. I think the absence sometimes of rail staff and security staff is a real problem.”
He added: “I think we’ve gone too far in the reduction of visible staffing on railway stations, on trains, on the underground and in public spaces in general.”
Mr Trotter further called on the authorities, including the Government, to address the deteriorating visibility of officers aboard public transport services.
In March, the Office for National Statistics showed that one in nine Britons reported seeing police officers or community support officers “on the beat”, meaning on foot patrol.
This figure has receded from three in 10 back in 2015 and four in 10 in 2011.
Subsequently, after the Huntingdon stabbing, plenty have gone on to praise “normal” people’s responses in such atrocious incidents, including Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Paul Bristow.
Speaking to Andrew Pierce on Sunday morning, Mr Bristow lauded the heroic actions of Britons, saying: “It seems to me that everyday people, people are capable of extraordinary things.
“And the gentleman you refer to to protect a young girl like that.
“I hope when all things come to light that he’s okay. That’s the first thing because I understand he’s got injuries to his neck and and his head, but hopefully he’s recognised for what he did.
“We’re all capable of extraordinary things. And none of us know how we will react in the situation.”