Cameron orders hiring extra 1,500 armed cops to combat terror

Britain, famed around the world for its unarmed police force, is to recruit an extra 1,500 highly-trained firearms officers in the wake of recent terror attacks in Paris and Brussels, local media reported on Friday.

The government is to fund 1,000 of the armed police officers, 600 are to be based in London and the other 400 in provincial cities around England and Wales.

Armed officers, routinely on duty at airports, train stations and major public buildings, are becoming a more common sight in Britain.

But the vast majority of the more than 120,000 traditional British bobbies in England and Wales will not carry firearms. Currently, less than 6,000 British police officers are equipped with firearms.

A Downing Street spokesman for British Prime Minister David Cameron said up to 10,000 troops are also primed to respond in the event of any terror attacks in London or other British cities.

Around 143 million pounds (204 million U.S. dollars) has already been earmarked by Cameron to increase Britain's armed response capabilities. Up to 40 armed response vehicles will in the coming year be added to the fleet, bringing the total to over 150. The vehicles are specially adapted to carry weapons and specialized uniforms worn by armed officers.

Cameron said: "After the terrorist attacks in France last year, we decided to look at whether there was more we could do to protect people from the type of terrorist threat we now face."

"That's why we are increasing the number of specially trained armed officers up and down the country to make sure the police have greater capability to respond swiftly and effectively should they need to do so."

Cameron added: "Our police and intelligence agencies work round the clock to keep us safe and it is absolutely vital that we support them with the right resources."

Soldiers from the British army would only be brought in to assist with broader security responses.
 Xinhua -china.org.cn
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