No 10 planning 4,000 strong force of armed police to swarm streets in case of Paris-style atrocity
The merged firearms division would bring together almost 4,000 officers for deployment under one central command
AN elite 4,000-strong cop force is being planned to put down Paris-style terror attacks in Britain.
Hand-picked firearms teams from the British Transport Police, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and the Ministry of Defence police would make up the Armed Infrastructure Constabulary.
The “army” would have its own weapons, communications and command structure and would be on permanent standby to dash to terrorist outrages.
It would also protect prime terror targets including airports, train stations, nuclear power stations, and ports.
Britain remains at high risk of attacks similar to Paris, where IS gunmen killed 130 people in November. Brussels and Munich were also targeted this year.
The plans go further than the proposal by David Cameron earlier this year to put hundreds more armed police on Britain’s streets to deal with the increased threat from extremist groups.
Those additional 1,500 officers will be under the control of the 43 individual police forces, while this unit will be modelled on the integrated national forces in other European countries.
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It is the latest departure from the traditional unarmed British bobby.
Advisers insist a new force of fast-moving police marksmen is vital to protect the public.
The AIC will also be linked to European partners at the Channel tunnel and UK ports.
Regional police forces will continue to run their own armed units, if the plan gets the green light.
The Home Office said a review into infrastructure policing was under way but “no conclusions have been reached”.