INVESTMENT in policing is required to help combat and prevent terrorist attacks in England and Wales.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the view from Neil Bowles, Chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, who has fears about the police\u2019s ability to respond should an attack similar to Paris happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government obviously have a hidden agenda to get rid of, to break the power of the current policing model,\u201d said Mr Bowles.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf such an attack happened at three different sites within an area in our country, I fear thousands would be killed before armed police could turn up.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore investment in policing is required. I think this Government \u2013 which talks about investing in our country\u2019s security and safety \u2013\u00a0needs to put their money where their mouth is. Security is an issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man in charge of UK armed policing has said British police would have \u201csignificant\u201d difficulty coping with attacks and on-the-run terrorists like those in Paris last week and in January.<\/p>\n
Deputy Chief Constable Simon Chesterman, lead for armed policing on the National Police Chiefs\u2019 Council, said manhunts for armed terrorists would be a \u201csignificant challenge\u201d for police. He said that \u201ca series of no-notice attacks\u2026would significantly stretch our armed resources and very quickly we would be asking for military support\u201d.<\/p>\n
His remarks emerged as Home Office figures showed there has been a 15%\u00a0drop in the number of armed officers since 2008, a 21% fall in London and reductions of almost half in some other areas.<\/p>\n
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