UK Terror Threat: More Armed Police For Regions

Hundreds more armed police are to be recruited by forces outside London in the next two years as the Government steps up moves to prevent Paris-style terror attacks in the UK.

Speaking at a security conference in Washington, David Cameron pledged a further 400 armed police in addition to 600 more in London announced in January.

To boost counter-terrorism in the regions, there will also be more round-the-clock specialist teams - mainly in big cities such as Manchester and Birmingham - and 40 more armed-response vehicles.

The extra armed officers, which will take the number in England and Wales to nearly 7,000, follows a review ordered by the Prime Minister after the Paris attacks.

The Government says every region will benefit.

The additional armed-response vehicles and teams will be operational within a year, taking the total to 150 and doubling the number in London. They will carry specialist equipment and enable firearms officers to be transported swiftly.

The Prime Minister said: "Our police and intelligence agencies work round the clock to keep us safe and it is absolutely vital that we support them with the right resources and kit.

"After the terrorist attacks in France last year, we decided to look at whether there was more we could do to protect people from the type of terrorist threat we now face.

"That’s why we are increasing the number of specially trained armed officers up and down the country to make sure the police have greater capability to respond swiftly and effectively should they need to do so."

Deputy Chief Constable Simon Chesterman, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Armed Policing, added: "Over recent years we have significantly enhanced the training, tactics and weaponry of armed officers to ensure they are capable of dealing with all types of terrorist attacks. 

"This additional uplift will ensure we are in an even stronger position to respond quickly and effectively to protect the public."

The plan for more armed police comes on top of military contingency planning announced by the Prime Minister following the Charlie Hebdo attacks in January last year.

This will allow 10,000 troops to be involved in a security response in the event of a terror attack, as well as enabling the military to fill in for armed police, releasing them to respond to incidents.

The new measures will be funded from £143m announced at the Strategic Security and Defence Review to increase Armed Response capability and capacity.