Cuts Watch #108: counter-terrorism

02 Jul 2010, by Richard Exell in Cuts Watch

A senior officer of the Metropolitan Police has warned that cuts in police funding will increase the risk of a terrorist attack. A 25 per cent cut in the police budget would translate into £150 million less for the anti-terror budgets and this would weaken Britain’s defences against al-Qaida.

John Yates, Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for ‘special operations’ at Scotland Yard was speaking at a closed meeting of the Association of Chief Police Officers, but his comments were later leaked to the press. Mr Yates estimated that £87 million could be cut from the Met’s counter-terrorism services and £62 million from those of other forces.