Worry over terrorism diverting local police

6.52.14pm GMT Thu 27th Mar 2003

At the Police Consultative Group on Tuesday, the borough commander warned that the threat of terrorism and military action in Iraq could place extra demands on the borough - resulting in local officers being switched to central London.

He promised to do whatever he could to keep in place the

ward-based police officers now carrying out community policing including foot patrols.

Vincent Cable, who is chair of the All Party Police Group in parliament, said: "of course, there has to be vigilance in relation to potential terrorist targets and the public understand that. But I am very concerned that with our local police numbers so low, there simply isn't spare capacity. "

"Despite the increased numbers of officers being recruited in "

"London they are not being directed to our borough; the Metropolitan Police Authority is failing us in the allocation of resources."

Vincent Cable has written to the Home Secretary to ask whether additional money will be granted for London to offset the additional costs of deterring terrorists: "No one doubts the need for the Metropolitan Police to safeguard national institutions like parliament. But this must not be "

"pushed onto local council tax payers when it is a national "

"responsibility."