Avon and Somerset police force says it would struggle to respond to terror attack

A police force has said it would struggle to provide an adequate response to a terrorist attack because of cuts. A report from Avon and Somerset constabulary says the force has reached ‘tipping point’ because of financial pressures and an increased workload. It says: “In the aftermath of Manchester, Westminster, London Bridge and Barcelona, the public have a heightened expectation of policing response that would be very difficult for us to deliver in significant provincial cities such as Bristol and Bath. “Individuals from the south-west region, some of whom are socially isolated and vulnerable, have travelled or expressed a desire to support Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, while others represent a threat as potential ‘lone actors’. “A reduction in current funding is likely to mean reduction in prevention activity delivered by our neighbourhood policing teams. “At the same time, domestic extremism is still an ongoing and complex threat. Extremist rightwing behaviour is currently characterised by lone actors attempting to incite anti-Islamic hatred while extreme leftwing activists retain the capability and intent to conduct further attacks within the force area. Effective community engagement by neighbourhood officers is critical in gathering the intelligence that uncovers such plot.” Since the government’s first comprehensive spending review in 2010, the report says, the Avon and Somerset force has made savings of £65 million, with 655 fewer police officers. It will have to find another £17 million by 2021-22 to balance its books. Andy Marsh, chief constable, said: “Our continuing ability to safeguard communities, protect the vulnerable, and manage major incidents of this kind is being severely tested. It’s simply not sustainable. There are serious choices to be made.”