Police forces were today urged to improve the sharing of firearms units and other specialist services as Home Secretary Theresa May issued a renewed warning about the “deadly” terrorist threat facing Britain.
In a speech in London to police chiefs, she said the “growing threat of terrorism” and new forms of other crimes meant that a “more organised and co-ordinated” policing response was needed.
She said this should include new methods of investigation and the increased use of specialist firearms teams and units combating cyber-crime and organised rackets spanning several forces.
Mrs May said collaboration was already under way in some regions. But she warned that the situation remained “patchy” and that the capability of specialist units varied considerably in different parts of the UK.
She added: “This country must confront the deadly and indiscriminate threat from terrorism. The terrible attack in California last week, in Paris last month, and in Beirut, Tunisia and elsewhere before, reveal the disturbing new face of terrorism, inspired by and linked to Daesh (Islamic State).
“But as we take military action to protect the UK and reclaim Syria for the Syrian people, we must also ensure that the police have the capabilities they need to respond here at home.
“So the changing nature of crime and the growing threat of terrorism require a different response, new methods of investigation and forensic analysis, and a more organised and coordinated policing landscape than exists today.”
Mrs May said that she did not intend to dictate how police forces should improve their capabilities, but told the police chiefs they should assess which services could better delivered in future by “specialist units owned jointly by a number of forces.”
She added: “On top of the established national networks for counter-terrorism and serious and organised crime, there are now joint local arrangements for firearms, major crime, economic crime, cyber crime, dog units and roads policing… but progress is patchy.”
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