Re: Book stores.
"it's difficult to see how extra 'bobbies on the beat' would make any difference for this sort of crime."
The general consensus from top Bobbies is that more officers in community policing builds relationships with the community, making it more likely that things get reported. Secondly, when people in the community do report "radicals" and nothing is done about it, an approachable community officer could have their ear bent about "why has nothing been done?".
May, by removing community officers, has created a gulf between the communities where radicalisation may occur and the security services.
Set atop that the fact that the last 2 incidents have been carried out by people who have been brought to the attention of the security services by the community, it doesn't look too good for the PREVENT program.
Some quick math though, 20,000 less offices and 1000 less firearms officers -> 3000 on the watch list, equates to about 7 officers per "free radical". I can't see how May and Co can possibly defend those numbers, especially since the Police Federation told her in no uncertain terms that she risked security by slashing numbers.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
