Terror expert: Police cuts cause problems for counter-terrorism
Professor Michael Clarke, an adviser for the Joint National Committee on Security Strategy said a lack of police funding is causing a “knock-on problem”.
Speaking to Newsnight, Mr Clarke suggested that big cities may be more vulnerable due to lack of funding as they fight against terrorism.
He said: “That’s where the knock-on problem is.
“The MET in London, they’re pretty good at counter-terrorism, they are the biggest counter-terrorism organisation, they take the lead.
“If you look at other constabularies in the other big cities which may now be a source of vulnerability, then they would tell that their counter-terrorist organisations are far too small.
“They are not probably well trained enough, they don’t have enough firearms trained officers.
“That’s where the knock on effect arises.
“So if there are more police there could be more firearms officers or if this [terror] threat level ‘critical’ means troops will turn out, that will release more police to do the firearms related tasks.”
Mr Clarke highlighted how significant the lack of funding for police is, after the Manchester Arena suicide attack.
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On Tuesday evening, Theresa May made the announcement that the UK terror threat level was raised to ‘critical’ meaning an attack could be ‘imminent’ following an emergency COBRA meeting.
Mrs May admitted that it was possible a “wider group of individuals” could have been behind the Manchester Arena attack, which occurred at the end of an Ariana Grande concert.
Speaking at Downing Street, the Prime Minister said: “The work undertaken throughout the day has revealed it is a possibility we cannot ignore that there is a wider group of individuals linked to this attack.
“This means that their assessment is not only that an attack remains highly likely but that a further attack may be imminent.”
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They are not probably well trained enough, they don’t have enough firearms trained officers
The Prime Minister also said that Operation Temperer, allowing military personnel to take to the streets was now in force.
Mr Clarke reiterated how counter-terrorism could be improved in the UK.
He added: “I think the security services would say that they have got most of what they want, they need, they certainly don’t need extra powers.
“We have plenty of counter-terrorism law int his country, plenty of measures, but the police need more resource and I think that is what this is going to hinge on.
“So no, we don’t need extra powers but we need to implement powers that do exist probably a bit more across the board.”
During at interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today program, the Home Secretary claimed that the Manchester bomber was known to security services.
Amber Rudd said: “The security services will know a lot of people that does not mean they are expected to arrest everybody they know.
“It is somebody who they had known before and I am sure when this investigation concludes we will be able to find out more.”
Police have now named suicide bomber Salman Abedi as being behind the atrocity.
Three arrests have been made in connection with Monday’s Manchester Arena attack.