Prime Minister Theresa May has announced that a major counter-terrorism training exercise will take place in Scotland later this year.
The exercise is designed to strengthen the UK’s response to a terrorist attack and will test the multi-agency response from our security organisations.
The Prime Minister announced the exercise during a visit to Police Scotland, and is part of the UK government’s National Counter-Terrorism Exercise Programme, aimed at bringing together policing and security, the armed forces, UK government departments and the devolved administrations to test responses to a major terrorist attack.
Police Scotland will act as the lead force throughout the operation, which is scheduled for October. The force is only second in size to the Metropolitan Police Service and works closely with other UK forces.
Following the announcement Mrs May met a range of officers involved in counter-terrorism, including some who were involved in Police Scotland’s response to last week’s attacks in Westminster.
The Prime Minister Theresa May said: “The UK government considers national security across the whole of the UK as a top priority.
“Training operations such as this one play a significant part in making sure police forces and other response agencies are able to fully draw on the latest intelligence and resources from the UK’s security forces to protect against terrorism anywhere on our soil.
“As the second largest force in the country, Police Scotland are a key player in our fight against terrorism. I’m grateful to them for the exceptional work they have been delivering so far to prepare for this very important counter-terrorism exercise.”
The training exercise will also involve areas in the north of England.
Cross-agency counter-terrorism responses take place regularly, with exercises ranging from low capability testing to full scale national operations. This event will also involve areas in the north of England, and is part of a routine run.
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