The Met’s anti-terror chief today vowed to do “everything within our power” to protect Londoners from potentially dangerous suspects freed from “Tpim” restrictions.
At least six have been released from the Government’s curbs, which include curfews and regular reporting to police, in recent days because of a controversial decision by ministers to set a two-year time limit on the restrictions, officially known as Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures.
They include one man accused of planning a Mumbai-style attack in Britain and another involved in a plot to blow up transatlantic airliners, prompting Labour MPs and some Tories to warn that the public is being placed at unnecessary risk.
But Scotland Yard’s head of counter-terrorism, Commander Richard Walton, said police were ready to cope with the threat and he was “confident” his officers could protect Londoners.
He added: “London needs to be re-assured that we will do everything within our power to keep London safe and I’m quite confident that if the Government felt that we needed additional powers then they would legislate accordingly. I’m confident that we have the tools to do the job. We are well resourced and we have had substantial extra funds for more resources from the Home Secretary."
Commander Walton said those subject to Tpims were not the only individuals posing a serious terror threat in the capital.
“There are more than half a dozen people that we are concerned about in London and we have lots of different tools and legislative options to deal with them. It’s not confined just to Tpim subjects. Tpims is one of many tools that we have to keep Llondon safe. There are many others,” he said.
Tpims were introduced in 2011 to replace the previous control order system, under which more extensive curbs could be applied for an indefinite period. The aim was to balance national security with civil liberties concerns about monitoring people who were not convicted.
Home Secretary Theresa May has defended the decision to limit Tpims to two years and said extra funding had been given to both police and MI5.
The Government’s terrorism watchdog, QC David Anderson, warned yesterday, however, that the freed suspects would join a “pool of dangerous people” at large in the community.
