UK Budget Cuts may Raise Terrorism Risk

UK police officials have warned that the budget cuts, which were announced last month, will increase the risk of terrorism for the nation. The warning came last Thursday during the yearly Association of Chief Police Officers meeting, and it has been both supported and criticized.

John Yates, the Anti-terror Officer has warned that the cuts are eye-watering. The 25% cut, which applies to all public sector departments, means that the nation’s defenses against al-Qaeda will weaken. While policing units across the country are set to lose about £62 million, he noted, the Metropolitan Police unit is set to lose about £87 million in their anti-terror budget due to the reduction.

Labour is backing the warning, with Alan Johnson agreeing that the nation will be in more danger if operations in anti-terrorism are reduced. He says that the warning is a sign that counter-terrorism and policing isn’t considered a priority by the government. If these two areas aren’t ‘ringfenced’ like they were when he controlled the Home Office, he continued, the ability of police officers to counter terrorism will be seriously affected while their numbers decline. The anti-terror budget cuts will be opposed by Labour in the Commons, he pledged.

However, Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude says that warning is only alarmism. He warned Yates back that the public shouldn’t be alarmed, saying that he doesn’t want public servants shroud-waving. They have a special responsibility to watch what they say and do, he continued. It’s important, he added, that public servants cut unnecessary costs and be as efficient as possible before alarming the public.