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| Rural police 'sitting ducks' in UK terror attack | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police officers in rural areas fear they would be "sitting ducks" in the event of a terrorist gun attack in the UK, a Police Federation chairman says. | Police officers in rural areas fear they would be "sitting ducks" in the event of a terrorist gun attack in the UK, a Police Federation chairman says. |
| A national shortage of armed officers could leave police in isolated areas "unarmed and vulnerable", John Apter, head of the Hampshire branch warned. | A national shortage of armed officers could leave police in isolated areas "unarmed and vulnerable", John Apter, head of the Hampshire branch warned. |
| Figures revealed the number of firearms officers in England and Wales last year fell to its lowest level since 1987. | Figures revealed the number of firearms officers in England and Wales last year fell to its lowest level since 1987. |
| Home Secretary Theresa May will address the Police Federation conference later. | Home Secretary Theresa May will address the Police Federation conference later. |
| The federation, which represents constables, sergeants and inspectors in England and Wales, is holding its annual conference in Bournemouth. | The federation, which represents constables, sergeants and inspectors in England and Wales, is holding its annual conference in Bournemouth. |
| Do police have firepower to tackle gun menace? | Do police have firepower to tackle gun menace? |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 4's File on 4, Mr Apter said armed officers could be more than 70 miles away if an attack was launched in a rural location. | Speaking to BBC Radio 4's File on 4, Mr Apter said armed officers could be more than 70 miles away if an attack was launched in a rural location. |
| Some rural and coastal areas include potential terrorist targets - including energy and power plants. | Some rural and coastal areas include potential terrorist targets - including energy and power plants. |
| "Being realistic, if a firearms unit was coming from the middle of the county you are still talking about 30 miles away - you are not talking about a few minutes," he said. | "Being realistic, if a firearms unit was coming from the middle of the county you are still talking about 30 miles away - you are not talking about a few minutes," he said. |
| "There would be an understandable delay. | "There would be an understandable delay. |
| "If a firearms unit is the other side of the county they could be 70 miles away so you are talking a significant distance. | "If a firearms unit is the other side of the county they could be 70 miles away so you are talking a significant distance. |
| "So the only officers that you have available are unarmed and vulnerable officers and they are the officers that are saying to me that in a terrorist situation they would be sitting ducks." | "So the only officers that you have available are unarmed and vulnerable officers and they are the officers that are saying to me that in a terrorist situation they would be sitting ducks." |
| Last month, Prime Minister David Cameron announced money would be ring-fenced to boost the number of firearms officers in the UK, following terror attacks in Brussels and Paris. | Last month, Prime Minister David Cameron announced money would be ring-fenced to boost the number of firearms officers in the UK, following terror attacks in Brussels and Paris. |
| However, federation chairman, Steve White, said the government's plan to train another 1,500 firearms officers to deal with the terror threat looked doubtful. | However, federation chairman, Steve White, said the government's plan to train another 1,500 firearms officers to deal with the terror threat looked doubtful. |
| Officers are not volunteering to carry guns because they fear being "hung out to dry" and treated like a suspect if they discharge their weapon, he said. | Officers are not volunteering to carry guns because they fear being "hung out to dry" and treated like a suspect if they discharge their weapon, he said. |
| The result was "worrying" inconsistencies in the service nationally, leaving some forces without firearms officers and reliant on neighbouring forces for coverage, Mr White added. | The result was "worrying" inconsistencies in the service nationally, leaving some forces without firearms officers and reliant on neighbouring forces for coverage, Mr White added. |
| A national shortage of armed police was leaving the UK vulnerable to terror attacks, he warned. | A national shortage of armed police was leaving the UK vulnerable to terror attacks, he warned. |
| No 'magic pot' | No 'magic pot' |
| Che Donald, from the Police Federation, told the BBC the recruitment drive will create a "gap" in the front line, as armed officers transfer from neighbourhood policing. | Che Donald, from the Police Federation, told the BBC the recruitment drive will create a "gap" in the front line, as armed officers transfer from neighbourhood policing. |
| "There isn't a magic pot we can just dip into and pull out a fully trained firearms officer," he said. | "There isn't a magic pot we can just dip into and pull out a fully trained firearms officer," he said. |
| Police minister Mike Penning said the government had committed an additional £143m over the next five years to provide "a national uplift in armed policing capability". | Police minister Mike Penning said the government had committed an additional £143m over the next five years to provide "a national uplift in armed policing capability". |
| Downing Street said police forces were recruiting more than 1,000 armed officers, setting up round-the-clock specialist teams outside London. | Downing Street said police forces were recruiting more than 1,000 armed officers, setting up round-the-clock specialist teams outside London. |
| More than 40 police armed response vehicles will also be deployed. | More than 40 police armed response vehicles will also be deployed. |
| "We will always ensure firearms officers are supported to take the difficult decisions necessary to protect the public," he said. | "We will always ensure firearms officers are supported to take the difficult decisions necessary to protect the public," he said. |