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Met Police to increase armed officers to counter terrorism Met Police to train 600 extra armed officers to counter terrorism
(35 minutes later)
Hundreds of extra armed officers are to be trained to help counter the threat of a terrorist attack in London, the Metropolitan Police is set to announce. Six hundred extra armed officers are to be trained to help counter the threat of a terrorist attack in London, the Metropolitan Police has announced.
It comes after Scotland Yard reassessed its ability to stop terrorism and respond to armed attacks in light of last year's deadly attacks in Paris. It represents more than a 25% increase, bringing the total number of armed officers in the capital to 2,800.
Some 600 extra officers are expected to receive firearms training - in addition to 2,000 already trained in London. Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "It will be an expensive option, but is vital to keeping us safe."
Met commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe says he is determined to boost numbers. It comes after Scotland Yard reassessed its ability to respond to armed attacks after last year's Paris terror attacks.
Speaking on LBC radio on Wednesday, he said there was likely to be a "significant announcement" on Thursday. The plans to increase in the number of armed officers - which are already under way - would "more than double the number of armed response vehicles on our streets and grow a highly-trained specialist part of our capability," he said.
Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, told the BBC the numbers had not yet been confirmed, but the commissioner recognised more armed police were required in London to deal with a major incident. "My firearms officers are our heroes - we expect them to run towards a terrorist attack and take action to confront and stop that threat," he said.
The terror threat level in the UK is at severe, meaning an attack is "highly likely". "By increasing the number of armed response vehicle officers we have we can make sure that our firearms response continues to come from a group of highly specialist and highly skilled officers."
Severe threat
The commissioner said he had taken the decision because the UK was facing a threat that was "likely to be a spontaneous attack that requires a fast response to deal with it".
However, it would not change the "fundamental principle" that police in the UK are not routinely armed, with about 92% of the Met officers still unarmed, he added.
Prime Minister David Cameron has ordered a review of the use of guns by police in England and Wales, following the Paris attacks, which left 130 people dead.Prime Minister David Cameron has ordered a review of the use of guns by police in England and Wales, following the Paris attacks, which left 130 people dead.
Last month, Mr Hogan-Howe said the number of armed patrols by the Met had risen by one-third and he wanted to increase that further. The terror threat level in the UK is at severe, meaning an attack is "highly likely".
'Money from where?'
UK counter-terrorism bosses also revealed for the first time that police marksmen were being told to walk over casualties and go forward to confront gunmen should there be an attack.UK counter-terrorism bosses also revealed for the first time that police marksmen were being told to walk over casualties and go forward to confront gunmen should there be an attack.
Outgoing City of London Police Commissioner Adrian Leppard also suggested the Army could be called in to man armed cordons if there were multiple gun and bomb attacks, as happened in Paris.Outgoing City of London Police Commissioner Adrian Leppard also suggested the Army could be called in to man armed cordons if there were multiple gun and bomb attacks, as happened in Paris.
The number of armed officers across England and Wales fell by 1,000 from 2010 to 2014.The number of armed officers across England and Wales fell by 1,000 from 2010 to 2014.
The Home Office has made £34m available to improve police firearms capacity and help forces deal more quickly and effectively with a possible gun attack.The Home Office has made £34m available to improve police firearms capacity and help forces deal more quickly and effectively with a possible gun attack.
Andy Burnham, the shadow home secretary, said Labour gave the news a "cautious welcome" after "successfully forcing George Osborne to back down on his planned cuts to the police at the Spending Review". Mayor of London Boris Johnson welcomed the increase, saying it was "absolutely essential".
"While this city remains one of the safest in the world, the terrible events in Paris last year remind us that we have to be prepared to meet any potential terrorist threat," he said.
'Money from where?'
Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham said Labour gave the news a "cautious welcome" after "successfully forcing George Osborne to back down on his planned cuts to the police at the Spending Review".
"We do have to ask where the money is coming from," he said."We do have to ask where the money is coming from," he said.
"If it's taken out of neighbourhood policing so we see police officers come off the beat, or if it's money that isn't then available to other big cities around the country, then that wouldn't be right.""If it's taken out of neighbourhood policing so we see police officers come off the beat, or if it's money that isn't then available to other big cities around the country, then that wouldn't be right."
Kevin Hurley, independent elected Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, argued other cities around the UK should also get more firearms officers in case of a terror attack.