RiskUKOctober2017

News Analysis: UK-European Union Security Partnership
safer. Any degradation in our ability to work
together and share information as we leave the
European Union gives advantage to criminals
and terrorists. We’ve worked with Government
to explain our operational requirements, the
benefits they bring and the risks of losing them.
We’re assured that this paper reflects those
requirements. It’s now for the negotiators to
work through the fine details. We’re on hand to
support the process by sharing our operational
advice and experience. In the meantime, we
continue to work closely with our EU partners.”
Boost for CT policing
Amber Rudd has also announced that an extra
£24 million is to be pumped into counterterrorism
policing in the wake of this year’s
terror attacks. The entirely new funding, which
is in addition to £707 million already
announced to support counter-terrorism
policing in 2017-2018, will be used to bolster
protective security measures in crowded places.
This will include helping to protect the public
from the specific threat of vehicles being used
as weapons.
The extra funding will go to counter-terrorism
police including the Metropolitan Police Service
and the Greater Manchester Police to assist
with their response to the threat of terrorism
and help in meeting costs relating to the recent
terrorist attacks.
“We’ve seen several devastating terrorist
attacks in quick succession this year, most
recently in Parsons Green, and the police have
responded to this challenge outstandingly,”
explained the Home Secretary. “The threat we
face from terrorism is becoming more complex
and diverse. That’s why we’re reviewing our
counter-terrorism strategy to ensure the
authorities have the powers they need to halt
terrorist activity. I’m grateful to the police
service and the Security Services for all that
they’re doing to keep us safe.”
The new funding comes in addition to the
Government’s commitment to increase
spending on counter-terrorism by 30% (from
£11.7 billion to £15.1 billion). The Government
has also provided £144 million over the
Spending Review period for a national uplift in
armed policing capability as well as funding for
an additional 1,900 officers at the Security and
Intelligence Services.
Arrests made by counter-terrorism officers in
the UK have risen by more than 50% in the year
to the end of June 2017 as the police and the
Security and Intelligence Services have
continued their efforts to make the UK a hostile
place for terrorists. The arrest figures released
by the Home Office reflect the increasing pace
“With the shared threats facing us evolving faster than
ever before, it’s vital that the UK and the EU maintain and
strengthen the close security collaboration that’s in place”
of activity by police right across the UK’s
counter-terrorism network as they tackle the
current threat.
A total of 379 arrests were made in the year
to June 2017, compared to 226 in the preceding
year. This represents a 68% increase.
Metropolitan Police Service Deputy Assistant
Commissioner Neil Basu, the Senior National
Co-ordinator for Counter-Terrorism Policing,
stated: “There’s no doubt that, since March,
and following on from the attacks in London
and Manchester, we’ve witnessed a sea change
in momentum. While the terrorist threat has
increased in recent months, so too has our own
activity, as is reflected by this significant
increase in arrests.”
Basu continued: “We’re taking every possible
opportunity to disrupt terrorist activity, be it by
making arrests for terrorism offences,
intervening where there are signs of
radicalisation or working with communities to
prevent terrorists from operating in their area.
The police service, together with the Security
and Intelligence Services, is determined to
make the UK as hostile an environment for
terrorists as possible.”
Since the Westminster attack back in March,
there have been six terrorist plots foiled on the
mainland by the police and the UK’s
intelligence community, bringing the number of
foiled plots to 19 since June 2013.
Extremism Commissioner
The Home Office has just launched a
recruitment campaign to appoint a Lead
Commissioner for Countering Extremism.
Confirmed in the Queen’s Speech, the
Commission for Countering Extremism will have
a clear remit to identify extremism and advise
the Government on new policies, laws and
other actions that may be required to tackle it.
It will also support communities and the public
sector to confront extremism wherever it exists
and promote British values.
The successful candidate for Lead
Commissioner will advise the Home Secretary
on the Commission’s future role and agree its
priorities in unison with the Home Office.
Given that there’s a strong correlation
between extremism and the poor treatment of
women and girls, the Commission will also have
a specific responsibility to ensure that the
rights of females are upheld.
David Davis: Secretary of State
for Exiting the European Union
Home Secretary Amber Rudd
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