Infastructure

Police officers in rural areas fear they would be “sitting ducks” in the event of a terrorist gun attack in the UK, a Police Federation chairman says.

A national shortage of armed officers could leave police in isolated areas “unarmed and vulnerable”, John Apter, head of the Hampshire branch warned.

Figures revealed the number of firearms officers in England and Wales last year fell to its lowest level since 1987.

The federation, which represents constables, sergeants and inspectors in England and Wales, is holding its annual conference in Bournemouth.

Nuclear power plants in Britain are guarded by the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, whose officers are routinely armed, while firearms officers of the Ministry of Defence Police are responsible for facilities such as the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston in Berkshire.

“Being realistic, if a firearms unit was coming from the middle of the county you are still talking about 30 miles away – you are not talking about a few minutes,” he said.

“There would be an understandable delay.

Police minister Mike Penning said the government had committed an additional £143m over the next five years to provide “a national uplift in armed policing capability”.

Downing Street said police forces were recruiting more than 1,000 armed officers, setting up round-the-clock specialist teams outside London.

More than 40 police armed response vehicles will also be deployed.

“We will always ensure firearms officers are supported to take the difficult decisions necessary to protect the public,” he said.

NB: this article has led to some rural tweets on twitter with people saying they are less worried about terrorists attack and more on the increased number of armed burglars on isolated farmhouses…