aintforever

Sounds like the usual Tory bull**** to me, I would take more notice of the former counter-terrorism chief to be honest. "A former counter-terrorism chief has lambasted Theresa May’s “endless cuts” to police numbers and warned that the London Bridge attack should make all politicians “reflect” on the damage done by austerity. Jim Gamble, the former head of Special Branch in Belfast, accused the Prime Minister of trying to “asset strip the critical services who in times of trouble make the real difference”. Blogging for HuffPost UK, Gamble – who also headed the police’s national online child protection unit – was scathing about May’s record as Home Secretary, when she oversaw the loss of 20,000 police jobs. A former police head of counter-terrorism in Belfast, and deputy director general of the National Crime Squard, Gamble said that May had claimed for too long that the police could ‘do more with less’. “No matter how you cut it, no matter what spin you put on diversification of resource or doing things differently, there are 20,000 fewer police now than there were in 2010,” he wrote in his blog. “That’s fewer eyes and ears on the street, fewer ‘bobbies’ building relationships, community confidence and critically creating that visible reassurance and deterrence that is key at times like this." They had an expert on radio 5 yesterday saying Community Policing is vital in preventing these sort of attacks and they have been cut as well. These officers are the eye and ears of the force. How can we expect the muslim communities to come onside if the only time they see a copper he is kicking a neighbours door down or stopping and searching someone?

I'm sorry, but even though they have improved tactics and training they should still not cut numbers. In any occupation things improve, get more efficient over time. The threat is growing, we have mass immigration and a growing population - numbers should be increasing even with the better training and tactics.

Surely with an ever increasing threat, and massive immigration the numbers should be increasing as well as being made more effective?

I don't think clothing is the problem, it's hiding your face that expect people have a problem with. Terrorists, ninjas, bank robbers, Darth Vader - they all hide their face for a reason.

Looks like first on the scene was an ordinary bobby from the BTP. Oh look, they have had cuts... http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/george-osborne-accused-of-risking-security-by-cutting-3m-from-british-transport-police-a6870891.html

A good vote winner, to finally come out and say "Islam".

I don't agree with Labour or Lib Dems on their policy for security, they need more powers of surveillance and more powers to lock people up. But the idea that the cops would not shoot to kill in these situations under Labour is nonsense.

About as useful as a **** off great big missile ready to fire on a submarine somewhere.

So the cuts have not happened then?

Of course they would. He has already praised their actions.

That's why they will never get into power, the guy is an idiot.

I think history shows that the threat is ever changing and these people are prepared to do anything for maximum impact. It would be naive in the extreme to think there is no risk outside the big cities. The Police have done an amazing job here, which is why it makes no sense to cut their numbers. They are all that stands between 6 dead or 60 dead.

7/7 they didn't.

They seem to target big cities that doesn't mean they won't attack elsewhere in the future though. Only a fool would assume otherwise. I would increase policing in the cities as a priority as well.

I think you will find these guys have cars mate.

The next attack might be in Devon or Cornwall, it could be anywhere.

You genuinely don't think more police would help in this sort of situation? Wow, just wow. Those bobbies on the beat are the same people who have to put armour on and respond to these sort of things. Even if they are not armed they would be doing vital work in securitising areas, organising, giving first aid, getting witness statements, communicating the situation on the ground to HQ. Also community policing is important in the first place to try and forge good relationships with Muslim communities so that they are more likely to pass on information about potential extremists.

I expect there would be more if it wasn't for May's cuts. The Met is just London anyway so not really a relevant to most of the UK.

I agree that the problem is Islam but surely the more police the better? The Conservatives have cut the police by 20,000. I think an estimate 16,000 more will go if their cuts continue - all because they are scared to tax the rich a little bit more. My next door neighbour is in the police and he is jacking it in after 20 years. He reckons there will be more of these sort of things and according to him "Teresa May is going to be eating her ****ing words".

And it makes sense to cut our police service because...

Or maybe don't blow all our cash on a pointless nuclear weapon and instead stop cutting our police service?

The Tories are obviously going to win but the way they are struggling up against a bunch of no hopers like Corbyn and Abbot is ****ing embarrassing. It's like watching Pompey get promoted from div 4. I actually hope they win just to see what a complete mess they make of Brexit.

And in English?

If it is there it is still a deterant regardless of who is PM. ****ing huge waste of money anyway. The days of major civilised nations going to war are long gone.

I don't get this obsession with pressing the nuclear button in some hypothetical attack.