Ex-Scotland Yard chief warns police cuts will hamper terror response
The former Scotland Yard chief has warned the British government against police cuts saying such a move will make Britain more vulnerable to terrorism.
Robert Quick says the government’s planned cuts will affect local intelligence and that means Daesh terrorists would find the country an easy target.
“It will damage the police’s ability to counter terrorism if neighborhood policing is cut. It will lead to a loss of intelligence, a loss of confidence and trust,” Quick told the Guardian.
He said the supply of intelligence from communities that identifies suspects is necessary to deal with terrorism.
Quick was head of the UK’s counter-terrorism from 2008 to 2009. His comes came as opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for cuts to the police budget to be limited to 5%, a far below than police chiefs are bracing from the Conservatives.
Britain police chiefs have intensified their lobbying against the cuts ever since deadly terror attacks hit the French capital last week. They say the move would lead to a loss of community officers and the intelligence they generate from the public.
The Home Office which is one the last government departments still holding out on the cuts as it has not agreed on the level of cuts with the Treasury. An announcement on the level of cuts as part of the comprehensive spending review is expected next week.
Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan police chief, also recently warned the government on the cuts. “I genuinely worry about the safety of London if the cuts go through on this scale”, he told a home affairs select committee. He added that cuts of £800m could mean the Met would lose 5,000 officers.
Prime Minister David Cameroon has, so far, tried to fend off the emerging challenge to his government on the issue. However, shadow home secretary, Andy Burnham, earlier wrote to Home Secretary Theresa May warning her that cuts of more than 5% over the next five years would endanger the public.
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