Armed police to guard polling stations on election day after terror attacks across Britain
ARMED police will be deployed at polling stations on Thursday to protect Britons casting their General Election votes in the wake of a number of terror attacks.
The move comes in the wake of a number of terror attacks in Britain
Firearms officers will be stationed in Essex and Cleveland, north-east England, to keep residents safe following the London Bridge terror attack last Saturday.
Stephen Kavanagh, Chief Constable for Essex Police, said: “Following the awful event of the weekend we are looking at all of the events where people will be gathering, whether that’s on the coast, whether that’s market places, and that will include the polling stations.
“We do need people to go out there and use their democratic mandate for whatever purpose they want, but I think when you see this type of vile challenge on our lifestyle, more than ever people need to go out there and vote and we will do our very best to try and keep them safe.”
Mr Kavanagh also said he is prepared to increase the number of taser-trained officers and armed officers in the county.
According to the Basildon Echo, an Essex Police spokesman said not all polling stations will be patrolled by armed officers but there would be a visible police presence and some polling stations will see armed officers.
The attack on London bridge left seven people dead and dozens more injured
Armed officers will also patrol polling stations in Cleveland, according to Assistant Chief Constable Jason Harwin, who said the move was necessary to reassure the public.
Mr Harwin said: “In this election week we know people will be concerned and we’ll have patrols of both armed and unarmed officers out during the coming days, including when we go to the polls on Thursday.
“We are not doing this because we face a specific threat, but because it is right to offer reassurance at this difficult time.”
Police chiefs said increased security measures would be taken to reassure the public
Other local authorities have confirmed they will bolster security at polling stations on Thursday, though they have not explicitly mentioned armed patrols.
Polling stations in Dartford are expected to be put under “enhanced security measures” on election day, according to local reports.
Exclusion zones will be set up outside almost all of Tower Hamlets’ 75 polling station in a bid to stop voter intimidation and prevent electoral fraud.
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Since 2012, half of all 224 allegations of electoral fraud in London related to the borough.
A council spokesman said: “We have put in place tough and secure measures to combat fraud, and our response to allegations of fraud has been independently recognised as both prompt and robust by the Electoral Commission. We work closely with the police.”