Police defend terror policy

Police have hit out at claims that warnings about terrorist attacks were scaremongering.

The Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police's Anti-Terrorist branch said it would be irresponsible not to issue warnings.

Peter Clarke said there was a serious risk of terrorism at home and abroad and the police had a duty of care to the people they served.

"I make no excuses for informing the public, as far as I can, of the reality of what we face," he said.

In a letter to The Times he added: "Not to issue warnings to the public based on current concerns would be irresponsible. The public can be assured that the Commissioner and I will continue to take whatever steps are necessary to protect them from harm."

Mr Clarke pointed to the Britons killed through terrorism in New York, Bali and Istanbul.

He said effective policing, based on good intelligence, and sensible security measures had deterred and disrupted terror attacks on Britain.

Since the September 11 atrocities there have been around 500 arrests for terrorism in the UK. Sanctions have been taken against half of those with 90 being charged under the Terrorism Act.

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