New Year's revellers OUTSIDE London 'at risk from terror attack because there aren't enough armed police to protect them', warns Police Federation
- Federation chairman warns there is no 'spare capacity' in armed officers
- Steve White said New Year's Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year
- Home Office said armed officers will be deployed based on 'threat and risk'
Police federation chairman Steve White has warned armed police will only be deployed where the risk is 'greatest'
New
Year revellers could be at risk from a terror attack because there are
not enough armed police across the country, it has been claimed.
Steve
White, chairman of the Police Federation, said armed officers would be
deployed to the most vulnerable locations but warned 'there is only so
many that can go around' - adding the fears had only been heightened by
the attacks in Paris and Tunisia.
The
warning follows reports Scotland Yard has raised concerns about the
number of armed officers available to police in cities outside London.
There
are around 6,000 armed officers in England and Wales. The Home Office
made £34 million available to train more officers in the wake of the
Paris attacks.
Capital cities across Europe are on alert for new attacks around the new year celebrations.
Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation, told the Daily Telegraph:
'Before Paris or Tunisia (terror attacks) we were already saying there
was a complete lack of resilience in specialist capabilities.
'In particular in relation to firearms we have seen rising demands versus decreasing resources.
'New
Year's Eve is always a time of high demand for the police service. In
terms of how we get any more, the argument is in relation to resilience
and the service no longer has the resilience.
'There is not the spare capacity. Forces will be putting the firearms teams where the risk is the greatest.
'The service has been at a stretch for the last few years. In terms of firearms, there is only so many that can go around.
Huge crowds will gather in city centres around the country as people mark the beginning of 2016 on Thursday night
'She's had enough': One-armed husband, 86, 'who could no...
Five years in jail for men who 'emotionally bully' wives:...
'It is a cause for concern. There is a lack of resilience in the service and that is now coming to fruition.'
A
Home Office spokesman said: 'Following the recent attacks in Paris, we
took the decision to provide £34m to enable a national uplift in armed
policing capability and capacity to respond more quickly and effectively
to a firearms attack.
'It
is for Chief Officers to determine the number of authorised firearms
officers in their areas based on a thorough assessment of threat and
risk.'
There are around 6,000 armed police
officers currently available in England and Wales. The Home Office is
providing £34 million to train more officers in the wake of the Paris
attacks.
In London, more armed Metropolitan Police officers are set to be on patrol on Thursday night.
Spokeswoman
Superintendent Jo Edwards said: 'It won't be any different on New
Year's Eve, in that the public will probably see more police officers on
the streets as part of our policing plan. They may see more visible
firearms officers as well.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment