London's top police officer has warned there can be 'no let up' in the fight against terrorism following the death of Osama Bin Laden. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said the al-Qaeda founder's killing did not mark the end of an ideology.
Delivering the John Creaney memorial lecture at the Policy Exchange think-tank, Sir Paul said an attack was 'highly likely and could occur without warning'. He stressed that the police and security services would continue to work locally, nationally and with international partners to counter the terrorist threat.
The commissioner also expressed concerns about plans to move key anti-terrorist functions into the proposed new National Crime Agency, warning of 'potential resourcing tensions' from linking counter-terrorism with organised crime. He added that institutional changes must not cause 'unnecessary distractions' in preparations for policing the 2012 London Olympics, widely viewed as a potential terrorist target.
Sir Paul emphasised the need for public vigilance, stating: 'We cannot do this alone, we need the help of the public to protect the country from the threat of terrorism.'
