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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| 'No guarantee' in terrorism fight | 'No guarantee' in terrorism fight |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The government "cannot guarantee 100% success" in its fight against terrorism, the home secretary says. | The government "cannot guarantee 100% success" in its fight against terrorism, the home secretary says. |
| John Reid said he could only promise "100% commitment" from police, security services and the Home Office as it shifts its focus to security. | John Reid said he could only promise "100% commitment" from police, security services and the Home Office as it shifts its focus to security. |
| He said the "struggle" against terrorism would "be unrelenting and of lengthy duration." | He said the "struggle" against terrorism would "be unrelenting and of lengthy duration." |
| He also said terrorists could cause devastation through an "electronic attack" on the UK's infrastructure. | |
| The Home Office is to be split from 9 May, to concentrate on crime reduction, terrorism and mass migration. | The Home Office is to be split from 9 May, to concentrate on crime reduction, terrorism and mass migration. |
| The reforms will boost security and provide a "more agile" response to terror threats, Mr Reid told an audience at the Royal United Services Institute. | The reforms will boost security and provide a "more agile" response to terror threats, Mr Reid told an audience at the Royal United Services Institute. |
| The proposed new structure | The proposed new structure |
| He said al-Qaeda's aim was to "bleed us to bankruptcy", adding that Western energy supplies could be among targets threatened. | |
| "It is easy to appreciate the devastation of a physical attack and what itcan bring but we must not underestimate the potentially devastating consequences of an electronic attack," he said. | |
| The new Office for Security and Counter Terrorism would play a "pivotal role" by enabling the Home Office to focus on personal, community and national security, he added. | |
| Mr Reid said: "It will provide that faster, brighter and more agile response to the terrorist threat through a new drive, cohesion, and by providing a greater strategic capacity to our fight against terrorism." | Mr Reid said: "It will provide that faster, brighter and more agile response to the terrorist threat through a new drive, cohesion, and by providing a greater strategic capacity to our fight against terrorism." |
| We are making these changes because we cannot afford one ounce of complacency in this struggle against terrorism John Reid Media leaks warning | We are making these changes because we cannot afford one ounce of complacency in this struggle against terrorism John Reid Media leaks warning |
| However, he added: "I can promise you 100% commitment from everyone involved, 100% dedication, but I have to be straight: we cannot promise 100% success. | However, he added: "I can promise you 100% commitment from everyone involved, 100% dedication, but I have to be straight: we cannot promise 100% success. |
| "That would be an insult to your intelligence, to my integrity, to indicate that we can ever guarantee that in fighting terrorism. | "That would be an insult to your intelligence, to my integrity, to indicate that we can ever guarantee that in fighting terrorism. |
| "We are making these changes because we cannot afford one ounce of complacency in this struggle against terrorism." | "We are making these changes because we cannot afford one ounce of complacency in this struggle against terrorism." |
| He praised the work of the police and security services in "heroically defending this nation from terrorist attacks," saying that they had averted "half a dozen" tragedies in recent years. | He praised the work of the police and security services in "heroically defending this nation from terrorist attacks," saying that they had averted "half a dozen" tragedies in recent years. |
| "The changes that we are introducing by refocusing the Home Office on immigration, crime and counter-terrorism are intended to supplement those efforts," Mr Reid said. | "The changes that we are introducing by refocusing the Home Office on immigration, crime and counter-terrorism are intended to supplement those efforts," Mr Reid said. |
| His comments came a day after the UK's counter-terrorism chief condemned as "beneath contempt" people who leak anti-terrorism intelligence. | His comments came a day after the UK's counter-terrorism chief condemned as "beneath contempt" people who leak anti-terrorism intelligence. |
| Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke of the Metropolitan Police said leaks had compromised investigations, revealed sources of life-saving intelligence and "put lives at risk" during major investigations. | Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke of the Metropolitan Police said leaks had compromised investigations, revealed sources of life-saving intelligence and "put lives at risk" during major investigations. |
| More staff | More staff |
| On Tuesday, Mr Reid told MPs that boosting the Home Office's counter-terrorism effort was expected to cost £15m. | On Tuesday, Mr Reid told MPs that boosting the Home Office's counter-terrorism effort was expected to cost £15m. |
| Permanent Secretary Sir David Normington confirmed the department would recruit an extra 150 staff to work in the area. | Permanent Secretary Sir David Normington confirmed the department would recruit an extra 150 staff to work in the area. |
| "This is not just redesignating a minister," Mr Reid told MPs. | "This is not just redesignating a minister," Mr Reid told MPs. |
| "This is adding real capacity, strategic thought, integration, personnel, and resources in the battle against counter terrorism." | "This is adding real capacity, strategic thought, integration, personnel, and resources in the battle against counter terrorism." |
| The plans to split the Home Office have attracted criticism from some former home secretaries, including Mr Reid's predecessors, Charles Clarke and David Blunkett. | The plans to split the Home Office have attracted criticism from some former home secretaries, including Mr Reid's predecessors, Charles Clarke and David Blunkett. |
| Return to top | Return to top |