LIB DEMS SET OUT 10-POINT PLAN TO RESPOND TO LONDON TERROR THREAT

12.01.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 28th Jul 2005

Ahead of the Metropolitan Police Authority meeting today (Thursday 28th July), the London Assembly Liberal Democrats have put forward a ten-point plan to beef up the measures already in place to help protect London from further terrorist attacks.

The 10-point plan includes a proposal to invest an extra £55million in improving security on London's transport network. The extra investment would be paid for by scrapping the money that has been earmarked to expand the proposed westward extension of the Congestion Charge.

The London Assembly Liberal Democrats plan also includes: -

· The merging of British Transport Police in London with the Met Police to further improve co-ordination and communication

· The setting up a dedicated London Emergency Volunteer Reserve Force to assist the emergency services in case of an attack

· Permanent staffed police boxes at every mainline station during rush hour

· An annual anti terrorism summit with mayors of other global cities and their police chiefs to share best practice

Commenting on the proposals, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Graham Tope, said:-

"The threat of terrorism has not, and will not, go away. Our emergency services have done a magnificent job but we must also urgently learn what additional steps we can practically take to respond to the terrorist threat and protect Londoners in the event of another atrocity.

"Sensible and affordable steps must be learnt and taken by Ministers, the Mayor and the Met to ensure that London can remain a safe place to live, work and visit."

On the proposal to invest £55million into public transport security by scrapping the westward extension of the Congestion Charge, Graham Tope, said:-

"The events of the last few weeks have radically altered the needs of London. There must be extra investment put into tightening up security on London's public transport system to regain the confidence of the travelling public.

"This will not come cheaply, but by scrapping the westward extension of the Congestion Charge, London would be able to afford to invest the extra resources into security without hitting the pockets of the capital's hard pressed taxpayers."

On the proposal to merge the Met and London British Transport Police, Graham Tope, said:

"The way the Met and the British Transport Police are divided up in the capital is a relic of the way our city could be policed in the nineteenth century.

"Times and threats have changed and with that must come the realisation that both forces should work together under one roof and one commander. A merger would ensure that information is shared even quicker and even better to help deal with the real threat of terrorism this city now faces."

On the proposals for a dedicated London Emergency Volunteer Reserve force, Graham Tope, said:-

"Now is the right time for the Mayor to create a separate London Emergency Volunteer Reserve which cannot be taken away from the capital. This reserve would help London's emergency services and work alongside the Civil Contingencies Reserve Force in the event of any future terror attack on the capital."

ENDS

Notes to editor

· The Metropolitan Police Authority Full Authority meeting will be held on the 28 July 2005, 10.00am, 10 Dean Farrar Street, London SW1H 0NY

· The full details of the 10-point plan the London Assembly Liberal Democrats will today can be found below:-

1. Increase spending on security and public safety measures on public transport in the capital by £55million. This would be met by scrapping the proposed costs of setting up of the westward extension of the Congestion Charge.

2. Setting up a dedicated London Emergency Volunteer Reserve Force to assist the emergency services in case of an attack.

3. The merging of British Transport Police in London with the Met Police.

4. Expand schemes to encourage train and tube staff to become special constables in the newly merged Transport division of the Met Police.

5. Staffed police boxes at every mainline station during rush hour.

6. A reassessment of talks on installing mobile phone access on the deep line Tube network.

7. Council Tax bills to contain specific London related information on what to do in the event of an attack.

8. An annual anti terrorism summit with mayors of other global cities and their police chiefs to share best practice.

9. Met Police training for businesses and their fire marshals setting out what they should do in the event of an attack.

10. Appointing a new MI5 trained anti-terrorism specialist to advise the Mayor of London.