Terrorists could target south coast

Marine police units along the south coast are on high alert after the foiled attacks in London and Glasgow last weekend.

Head of the Hampshire Police marine unit Sergeant Andy Simpson said: “You don’t perhaps associate marine policing with counter terrorism policing, but if you think about the coastlines of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight there are a very large number of potential terrorist targets ranging from iconic cruise ships to major commercial oil distilleries and military targets.”

The marine police have taken on more responsibilities in order to counter the threat of terrorism since events such as 9/11, but their funding has not improved.

Sgt Simpson said: “Our responsibilities have grown, but not our resources.”

Bob Purkiss from the Hampshire Police Authority said: “Certainly it’s a problem, but you can only go to the tax payer for so much.”

He said that the solution to the lack of resources lay in continual review and modernisation of police practices: “It’s a balancing act, but it’s about how we can do what we do in a better way.”