Tri-Service
Reports: Special Forces Unit Moved Closer To London
Reports have emerged that a Special Forces unit has been moved to RAF Northolt in West London in order to have them close to the capital should a Paris-style attack take place there.
Home Secretary Theresa May was questioned about the possibility, and although she didn’t confirm specifics, it’s clear there are plans in place. She told the BBC:
“We have measures in place to give the police military support."
Those measures would be called upon should there be a large-scale urban attack.
The story emerged in a report in the Sunday Times, which stated that the SAS counter-terror unit had been moved by helicopter from its base in Hereford, which is 134 miles from the Capital, to RAF Northolt - just 13 miles from Central London.
The Prime Minister has also been speaking about extra security measures to protect the UK in the wake of the Paris attacks.
He told BBC Radio 4 the speeding up the introduction of the investigatory powers bill on internet surveillance is under consideration. The bill is currently still in draft form and isn’t due until the end of 2016.
It will require web and phone companies to store records of websites visited by every citizen for 12 months, for access by police and security services.
It'll also make security services’ powers for the bulk collection of large volumes of personal communications data, among other measures, explicit in law.
The Home Office has ruled out rushing the bill through parliament, however, David Cameron has said, “I think we should take a look at the timetable”.
Cover photo courtesy of Andre Zehetbauer.
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