A Government minister in charge of tackling extremism has been accused of “complacency” after claiming the UK is “adequately prepared” to combat the threat of terrorists exploiting porous borders.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon denied that a review of security at borders was necessary and ruled out an increase in Border Force numbers insisting that “we meet the challenges we currently face”.
The news came after Eurosceptic justice minister Dominic Raab suggested Britain could turn away ten times more extremists and criminals of the UK left the European Union.
The peer made the comments after a counter terrorism conference hosted by MPs on the Home Affairs select committee in Cambridge this week. Asked if the Border Force needed more staff to keep the border secure, he said: “We are adequately prepared, we meet the challenge we currently face.”
He added that intelligence sharing between the National Crime Agency and the Home Office’s Border Force “allows us to meet the challenge that we are facing across the country, both across airports and maritime ports as well”.
Rather than giving more powers to Border staff to grill potential extremists, he said the Government wanted to strengthen “our partnerships across the board so that’s with civil society, with faith institutions”.
Meanwhile two British students have been jailed for life for plotting to kill police or soldiers in a shooting inspired by so-called Islamic State. Tarik Hassane, 22, of west London, will serve a minimum of 21 years after admitting conspiracy to murder and preparation of acts of terrorism. Suhaib Majeed, 22, of west London, was convicted of the same charges and will serve a minimum of 20 years.
Two other men who provided a gun were also imprisoned for firearms offences. Nyall Hamlett, 25, and Nathan Cuffy, 26, had admitted their role in handing over a gun to Majeed and Hassane, but denied knowing what it was going to be used for. Hamlett was jailed for six-and-a-half years and Cuffy for 11 years. They were cleared of conspiracy to murder and preparing terrorist acts.
The sentencing came as U.K. authorities warn of an unprecedented threat posed by hundreds of fighters on foreign soil who have started to return to their homes, some intending to carry out mass atrocities like those in Paris and Brussels.
