Chancellor to announce funds for new counter terrorism centre

Chancellor Rishi Sunak will announce tens of millions of pounds to build a new Counter Terrorism Operations Centre, as part of his upcoming Spending Review.

The government hopes that the London-based Counter Terrorism Operations Centre will be operational within five years and will help intelligence agencies and senior police officers to stop terrorist threats, although the first parts of the building are expected to be complete and operational as early as next year.

The state-of-the-art facility would co-ordinate expertise and resources, also combatting hostile state activity and organised crime. The centre would also involve the criminal justice system.

Sunak said: "Our police and intelligence agencies do an extraordinary job every day to protect us all from terrorist activity. Bringing these partners together to form a world-leading operations centre will enable them to work more collaboratively to disrupt threats - allowing the government to deliver on its first and foremost duty to keep the public safe."