Police in line for extra £50m to help fight terror

POLICE forces will be handed a £50 million funding boost to help the fight against terrorism.

The extra cash will increase 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 £757 million, after convincing Chancellor Philip Hammond that more money is needed to protect the UK public.

Ms Rudd said: “This represents our commitment to backing the talented and brave counter-terrorism forces with the resources they need to keep people safe.

“Since 2015 alone we have increased counter-terrorism spending by 30 per cent and pledged more than £500 million in increased funding for the counter- terrorism budget, to protect the UK from the ongoing threat posed by terrorism.

Speaking about the extra cash, Ms Rudd added: “This will allow counter-terrorism policing to meet headon the threat we face, working closely with our communities and continuing to disrupt those who would want to harm us.

“We are also reviewing our counter-terrorism strategy to make sure we meet the unprecedented challenge.”

Counter-terror police and the security services have disrupted 22 terrorist plots since the murder of Lee Rigby in May 2013, including nine since the Westminster attack in March this year.

Currently MI5 and counter-terrorism police are running well over 500 live operations.

There were 400 arrests for terrorism-related offences in the year ending September 30, 2017, an increase of 54 per cent compared with the previous year.

Ms Rudd added: “Time and again our police officers have been at the forefront of our response, putting themselves in harm’s way to keep others from danger.

“We will never forget the sacrifice of PC Keith Palmer, who was fatally stabbed while defending our Parliament.

“This Government stands alongside the police, ensuring they have the resources, capabilities and powers they need.”