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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Dirty bomb police numbers to rise | Dirty bomb police numbers to rise |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The government is significantly increasing the number of police officers trained to deal with a dirty bomb attack, the BBC has learned. | The government is significantly increasing the number of police officers trained to deal with a dirty bomb attack, the BBC has learned. |
| The Home Office wants to buy 12,000 personal protection suits for officers to wear in the event of a chemical, biological or nuclear terror attack. | |
| Some 7,000 officers across the UK are currently trained to deal with an attack - about 5% of the total number. | Some 7,000 officers across the UK are currently trained to deal with an attack - about 5% of the total number. |
| The Home Office said the move was "not in response to any specific threat". | The Home Office said the move was "not in response to any specific threat". |
| It was "part of an ongoing process", a spokesman said. | It was "part of an ongoing process", a spokesman said. |
| He said the move would mean an increase in the number of officers trained to deal with an attack, but would not say exactly how many. | He said the move would mean an increase in the number of officers trained to deal with an attack, but would not say exactly how many. |
| 'Sensible programme' | 'Sensible programme' |
| The Home Office invited companies to bid for the contract to supply the chemical protection suits before Christmas. | The Home Office invited companies to bid for the contract to supply the chemical protection suits before Christmas. |
| The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said the purchase of the suits was "part of a sensible, planned investment programme". | The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said the purchase of the suits was "part of a sensible, planned investment programme". |
| "It's significant in terms of what we need and what is being planned for," a spokesman said. | "It's significant in terms of what we need and what is being planned for," a spokesman said. |
| Conservative homeland security spokesman Patrick Mercer said he was "delighted" by the move. | Conservative homeland security spokesman Patrick Mercer said he was "delighted" by the move. |
| "It seems strange that they are doing it in December 2006 rather than October 2001," he added. | "It seems strange that they are doing it in December 2006 rather than October 2001," he added. |
| "It shows very slow appreciation by the government of what the dangers are." | "It shows very slow appreciation by the government of what the dangers are." |