MP Mark Pritchard in query over West Mercia Police armed response capabilities
Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard has questioned the level of protection in place to counter major firearms incidents in the West Mercia Police area.
Mr Pritchard wrote to the Home Office to ask whether there were any plans to increase the number of armed response officers and vehicles across the patch covered by the force, which includes Shropshire.
He said: "West Mercia is a large geographical area. Armed response times can make the difference between life and death should a major firearms incident take place.
"In these dangerous times, it is right to raise questions about whether there is the right level of protection locally."
In response to his question, the Home Office said: "It is for chief officers in conjunction with police and crime commissioners to determine the number of armed response officers and vehicles in their areas.
"This Government will provide £34m in 2016/17 to enable a national uplift in armed policing capability and capacity to respond more quickly to a firearms attack.
"Decisions over where this money will be distributed are yet to be made, but for reasons of national security we do not publicly disclose the detailed allocation of funding for counter terrorism by force area or by capability."
The written answer was sent to Mr Pritchard on Monday.
