Government hands police £50million funding boost to tackle UK terrorism
HARD-stretched police forces are to get a £50million increase in funding to help the fight against terrorism.
The extra cash will boost intelligence and surveillance capabilities and pay for armed officers to patrol city centres.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd secured the rise in next year’s police counter-terror budget to at least £757million after convincing Chancellor Philip Hammond more money is needed to protect the public.
Labour claims cuts are putting national security at risk.
Since 2015 the Government has increased counter-terror spending by 30 per cent.
It includes more armed officers plus an extra £500million for the SAS, MI5 and GCHQ listening centre.
Ms Rudd told The Sun on Sunday: “This represents our commitment to backing the brave counter-terrorism forces with the resources they need to keep people safe.”
MI5 and cops have foiled nine potential outrages since March’s Westminster attack.
But a suicide bomber was able to kill 22, including kids, at the Manchester Arena in May.
And a gang left eight dead at London Bridge in June before cops shot them dead.
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Mr Hammond decided not to scrimp on security despite the public finances squeeze.
Ms Rudd secured her cash after days of “quiet diplomacy” with the Chancellor.
Her success contrasts starkly with the style of new Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson who is locked in a feud with him over cuts to Armed Forces.
'We stand with brave officers'
By Chancellor Philip Hammond and Home Secretary Amber Rudd
FIVE attacks in London and Manchester darkened our spring and summer.
For the families of the 36 who died, ten of them children and teenagers, the pain is still real and raw.
People are facing a first Christmas without loved ones or with their lives forever changed.
We are committed to ensuring that our brave counter-terror forces have the resources they need to keep people safe, and are able to announce this extra funding because of this Government’s balanced approach to public spending.
Together with the security services, police have disrupted 22 Islamist terrorist plots since the murder of Lee Rigby in 2013, including nine since the Westminster attack in March this year.
Time and again, officers have been at the forefront, putting themselves in harm’s way to keep others from danger. This Government stands alongside them.