New police powers and 2,000 more spies as terrorism f ight stepped up

POLICE and security services will get sweeping new powers and nearly 2,000 more agents in radical plans to beef up the UK’s war on terror.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid marked the first anniversary of the London Bridge attack by promising a ‘step change’ in the nation’s counter-terror strategy to meet new challenges from extremists.

But last night the Government was warned that failure to give armed police officers better protection under law when they have to open fire was ‘hindering’ a key part of the anti-terror battle.

Police Federation representatives also protested that there were still fewer armed officers than ten years ago – despite Government pledges to boost recruitment.

The new anti-terror measures, which will be formally unveiled tomorrow, come in the wake of last year’s attacks at Westminster, the Manchester Arena, Finsbury Park, London Bridge and Parsons Green tube station.

Mr Javid paid tribute to victims of that ‘shocking’ London Bridge attack by vowing that tackling the terrorist threat was his ‘first priority’.

The revised counter-terror ‘Contest’ strategy includes tough new powers for MI5 and police to nip terror plots in the bud by arresting suspects early, a new Counter-Terrorism Bill to allow judges to hand down longer jail sentences and up to 1,900 new agents for MI5, MI6 and GCHQ to keep more suspects under surveillance.

Government sources say the new tactics are designed to meet the threat of Islamist terror – including extremists returning from Syria – and also the ‘growing’ danger of extreme Right-wing groups.