UK At Risk of Sea Borne Terror Attack
May 18, 2009 by national
Filed under World Report
Britain is vulnerable to terrorist attack from the sea because no single body is responsible for protecting the UK’s coast, MPs have warned.
Just nine Royal Navy ships along with a “motley collection” of police and coastguard boats guard a shoreline more than 7,000 miles long.
The Commons defence committee suggests developing a “deterrent capability” to ward off sea-borne attacks.
The Ministry of Defence has insisted clear procedures are in place.
Concerns over the UK’s preparations for dealing with a maritime terrorist threat were raised by the committee.
Reactive forces
Its statement said: “We are concerned at the level of action being taken to address threats to aspects of national infrastructure such as ports.
“What assets are available for maritime security tend to be reactive forces.”
The statement continued: “There is a strong case for developing a deterrent capability in relation to threats to civilian maritime targets.
“We are not satisfied that an intelligence-led approach is sufficient.”
At present the Royal Navy has six warships, two patrol vessels and a support tanker protecting UK waters.
They are backed up by 120 police boats, five coastguard patrol boats and five UK Border Agency vessels.
But the Conservatives have called for a full review of the defensive capability.
