{{Short description|Non-emergency SMS service on British railways}} {{good article}} {{Use British English|date=October 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}
'''61016'''{{Efn|Normally read in official announcements as {{nowrap|"six-one-oh-one-six"}} or {{nowrap|"six-one-zero-one-six"}} however official announcements may have different wording but still keeps the 'See it. Say it. Sorted.' slogan.<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtLr410NI6I |title='See it Say it Sorted' Announcements |date=29 November 2022 |last=Yata-Tetsu |format=video |publisher=YouTube }}</ref>|group=lower-roman}}{{Efn|61016 should not be confused with 80110; that is used for questions or general advice, not reporting incidents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Advice on when to call 999 |url=https://www.btp.police.uk/police-forces/british-transport-police/areas/campaigns/When-to-call-999/ |access-date=2026-02-21 |website=www.btp.police.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>|group=lower-roman}} is a British Transport Police (BTP) SMS text message service for reporting non-emergency incidents on Great Britain's railways. Launched in 2013, the 24/7 service allows members of the public to contact BTP via text about non-emergency matters at any time. The service received 255,000 reports in 2025 and has featured in BTP publicity alongside the slogan "See it. Say it. Sorted."
== History ==
=== Introduction === The 61016 service was introduced in 2013 to provide rail users with a discreet way to contact BTP via text message to share non-emergency concerns like suspicious activity and anti-social behaviour while travelling. It operates 24/7 and 365 days-a-year and aims to improve reporting and detection of crime on Britain's railways.<ref name=estimes-20230310>{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Mike |date=10 March 2023 |title=The 61016 service celebrates its 10th birthday |url=https://emergencyservicestimes.com/2023/03/10/the-61016-service-celebrates-its-10th-birthday/ |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=Emergency Services Times |language=en-GB |archive-date=9 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009184643/https://emergencyservicestimes.com/2023/03/10/the-61016-service-celebrates-its-10th-birthday/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2013-03-06/crime-can-be-reported-via-text/ | title = Texts to tackle travel crime | date = 6 March 2013 | work = ITV News | access-date = 22 October 2025 | archive-date = 27 October 2025 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20251027090314/https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2013-03-06/crime-can-be-reported-via-text/ | url-status = live }}</ref>
=== 'See It. Say It. Sorted.' introduction === [[File:Glasgow Queen Street - Abellio 170407.JPG|thumb|An Abellio ScotRail train with BTP advertising, showing the 61016 non-emergency number]] By 2016, the service had expanded, introducing the "See it. Say it. Sorted." campaign. It urged passengers to report suspicious behaviour via text message. As part of the new campaign, train companies started playing the campaign slogan in trains and at stations:<ref>{{Cite web |title=British Transport Police {{!}} TfW |url=https://tfw.wales/about-us/our-culture/safety/british-transport-police |access-date=14 September 2025 |website=tfw.wales |language=en |archive-date=9 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009184148/https://tfw.wales/about-us/our-culture/safety/british-transport-police |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McAllister |first=Lizzie |date=27 December 2024 |title=Brits are only just learning what 'see it, say it, sorted' slogan actually says |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/brits-only-just-learning-what-30664554 |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref>
{{Blockquote|text="If you see something that doesn't look right, speak to staff or text the British Transport Police on 61016. We'll sort it. See it. Say it. Sorted."}}
The 61016 number continues to be highlighted across trains, stations, and announcements to help improve public safety.<ref name="Sweney-20250916">{{Cite news |last=Sweney |first=Mark |date=16 September 2025 |title='See it. Say it. Sorted' campaign gets refresh – but slogan stays same |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/16/see-it-say-it-sorted-campaign-gets-refresh-but-slogan-stays-same |access-date=21 September 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
=== 'See it. Say it. Sorted.' refresh === In 2025, the 'See it. Say it. Sorted.' campaign received its first update ever since it launched in 2016.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Deamer |first=Lanna |date=2025-09-23 |title='See it. Say it. Sorted' gets first major refresh in a decade |url=https://emergencyservicestimes.com/2025/09/24/see-it-say-it-sorted-gets-first-major-refresh-in-a-decade/ |access-date=2026-03-24 |website=Emergency Services Times |language=en-GB}}</ref> The upgrade featured new posters and announcements, with the announcements having been rewritten and the wording made sharper.<ref name=":0" /> A Network Rail spokesperson said the refresh "will ultimately keep our railway running reliably by encouraging passengers to be our eyes and ears", as well as mentioning how this new change would be rolled in gradually across Great Britain.<ref name="Sweney-20250916" />
== Efficacy and reception ==
=== Statistics === In its first year of operation the service received over 4,000 messages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://btpa.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Item-4.-Q1-Performance-Report-combined-for-website.pdf|title=BTP Performance 2016-17|url-status=live|date=July 2016|access-date=27 November 2025|archive-date=19 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119040930/https://btpa.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Item-4.-Q1-Performance-Report-combined-for-website.pdf}}</ref> In 2015, BTP aimed for 61016 to reduce crime by 20%, reduce crime-related disruption by 20%, and increase staff and passenger confidence by 10% (also known as 20:20:10), while additionally adding "value for money".<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Auger |first1=Ashley |last2=Chainani |first2=Jai |date=November 2015 |title=2016-2017 Policing Plan |url=https://btpa.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Item-3.-BTPA-Target-Paper-December-2015-Final.pdf |website=British Transport Police |access-date=22 November 2025 |archive-date=15 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251015112956/https://btpa.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Item-3.-BTPA-Target-Paper-December-2015-Final.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, the 20:20:10 strategy was retired to avoid encouraging undesirable behaviours and taking police away from where they are needed most to pursue binary numerical targets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Putting 20:20:10 to bed |url=https://btpa.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Item-7-Appx-Putting-202010-comms.pdf |website=British Transport Police Authority |date= |access-date=24 January 2026 |archive-date=19 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119035704/https://btpa.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Item-7-Appx-Putting-202010-comms.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, while "value for money" is no longer an objective for the British Transport Police Authority, its BTP Strategy 2026{{ndash}}2029 does identify driving productivity through innovation as a strategic objective.<ref>{{Cite web |last=British Transport Police Authority |title=Strategic Plan |url=https://btpa.police.uk/publications/strategic-plan/ |access-date=2026-05-12 |website=British Transport Police Authority |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In 2022, BTP received 472 reports of sexual harassment, 540 incidents categorised as sexual offences, 573 hate crimes, and 434 reports of theft via the text service.<ref name="estimes-20230310" /> In March 2023, BTP announced that more than 668,000 texts had been sent to the service in its first ten years.<ref name="BTP-20230306">{{cite web |title=British Transport Police marks more than half a million texts on 10th birthday |url=https://www.btp.police.uk/news/btp/news/england/british-transport-police-marks-more-than-half-a-million-texts-on-10th-birthday/ |website=British Transport Police |date=6 March 2023 |access-date=14 September 2025 |archive-date=7 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007155357/https://www.btp.police.uk/news/btp/news/england/british-transport-police-marks-more-than-half-a-million-texts-on-10th-birthday/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2023, there were 320 reports of sexual offences and harassment in London by females under the age of 19, an increase of 33% over the previous year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 May 2024 |title=London transport: Reported offences against women up 33% - police |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c066g6n504mo |access-date=14 September 2025 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=9 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009184705/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c066g6n504mo |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2023, a text was sent to 61016 and received by BTP's contact centre every two minutes during daytime hours.<ref name="estimes-20230310" /> By 2025, reports to the 61016 service had increased to 255,000 per year.<ref>{{cite web |title=See It, Say It, Sorted campaign success |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/see-it-say-it-sorted-campaign-md2c8jhrm |url-access=subscription|work=The Times |date=16 September 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250917222231/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/london/article/see-it-say-it-sorted-campaign-md2c8jhrm | archive-date=17 September 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=New look, same message: 'See it. Say it. Sorted'|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-look-same-message-see-it-say-it-sorted|website=GOV.UK|access-date=2025-11-27|language=en|archive-date=15 December 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251215041313/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-look-same-message-see-it-say-it-sorted|url-status=live}}</ref>thumb|A refreshed poster, launched in September 2025, for the 61016 "See it. Say it. Sorted." campaign
=== Reception ===
BTP continues to promote crime awareness with 61016, as victims of sexual harassment have said they were unaware of the service as recently as of 2024.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sharp rise in reported cases of sexual harassment on London's transport system, police say |work=ITV News |date=29 May 2024 |url=https://www.itv.com/news/london/2024-05-29/sharp-rise-in-reported-cases-of-sexual-harassment-on-londons-transport-system |access-date=8 October 2025 |archive-date=9 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009184845/https://www.itv.com/news/london/2024-05-29/sharp-rise-in-reported-cases-of-sexual-harassment-on-londons-transport-system |url-status=live }}</ref> While use of the service has continued to grow over time and has been reported on positively, the "See it. Say it. Sorted" campaign has also been described as "the most irritating slogan in the history of British transport".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Silvester |first=Andy |date=19 March 2025 |title=How 'See it. Say it. Sorted.' became Britain's most effective earworm |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/london/article/see-it-say-sorted-tfl-mnd5875fk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260512115701/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/london/article/see-it-say-sorted-tfl-mnd5875fk?msockid=110cf98974ed68570835eabb756569b7 |archive-date=12 May 2026 |access-date=12 May 2026 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="Sweney-20250916" /> Passengers have commented that the station and train announcements were "becoming too frequent and a bit annoying."<ref name="Sweney-20250916" />
=== UK mobile networks collaboration === In 2024, BTP collaborated with Three UK, EE, O2 and Vodafone to make the 61016 service free of charge on major UK networks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Text 61016 – Discreet, direct, and now free-of-charge |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/text-61016-discreet-direct-now-free-of-charge-lucy-d-orsi-cvo-qpm-zanaf |access-date=2026-01-21 |website=www.linkedin.com |language=en}}</ref> This has reduced barriers to reporting while ensuring that individuals are able to contact BTP without facing mobile charges on all but some limited mobile networks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Devonshire |first=James |date=26 November 2024 |title=British Transport Police's 61016 text service now free across all major UK mobile networks |url=https://emergencyservicestimes.com/2024/11/26/british-transport-polices-61016-text-service-now-free-across-all-major-uk-mobile-networks/ |access-date=14 September 2025 |website=Emergency Services Times |language=en-GB}}</ref> In some instances, if someone has blocked premium rate numbers then they may not be able to text 61016.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Text BTP on 61016 |url=https://www.btp.police.uk/police-forces/british-transport-police/areas/campaigns/61016-text-service/ |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=www.btp.police.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Process and reporting == When someone texts 61016, the text is sent to the First Contact Centre in Birmingham with operators responding and able to dispatch BTP officers as appropriate.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=How to use our 61016 text number |url=https://www.btp.police.uk/police-forces/british-transport-police/areas/campaigns/How-to-use-our-text-number/ |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=www.btp.police.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Hannah |date=2026-02-16 |title=Exactly what happens when you text 61016 on a train - according to BTP detective |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/exactly-what-happens-you-text-33171122 |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=Birmingham Live |language=en}}</ref> The sender will receive a text confirming that BTP has received their message and the report is then logged for the police to be able to handle and follow up the incident.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />
61016 is used alongside the 0800 40 50 40 BTP phone number which serves the same purpose but for phone calls, as well as the 999 and 101 numbers for emergency and non-emergency police, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Advice on when to call 999 |url=https://www.btp.police.uk/police-forces/british-transport-police/areas/campaigns/When-to-call-999/ |access-date=2026-02-21 |website=www.btp.police.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Previously, passengers were also able report crime with the Railway Guardian App in a similar way to texting 61016 as well as report anonymously to Crimestoppers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Longhorn |first=Danny |date=2024-11-26 |title=BTP's 61016 text service now free across all major UK mobile networks |url=https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/btps-61016-text-service-now-free-across-all-major-uk-mobile-networks/ |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=RailBusinessDaily |language=en-US}}</ref> The app is no longer in service, but reports can still be made directly using the National Rail App.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Text 61016 {{!}} National Rail |url=https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/help-and-assistance/text-61016/ |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=www.nationalrail.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Railway Guardian App {{!}} National Rail |url=https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/railway-guardian-app/ |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=www.nationalrail.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
== Notes == {{Reflist|group=lower-roman}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtLr410NI6I 61016 'See it. Say it. Sorted.' Announcement]
Category:Emergency telephone numbers Category:British Transport Police