Britain to increase staff, funding for counter-terrorism, aviation security

Britain will "substantially increase" its efforts to counter the threat from the Islamic State, including providing extra security and intelligence staff and more funding for aviation security, Downing Street announced Monday.

New funding will be invested in the security and intelligence agencies to provide for an additional 1,900 officers, an increase of 15 percent, at MI5, MI6 and GCHQ to tackle the increasing international terrorist threat and cyber-attacks, Downing Street said Monday in a statement.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has decided to "boost resources" in the wake of "the increasing number of Islamist terror plots against Britain and the attacks in Belgium, France, Tunisia and elsewhere," it added.

"This is a generational struggle that demands we provide more manpower to combat those who would destroy us and our values," Cameron said in the statement.

Britain is also planning a step change in its approach to aviation security following the Russian Metrojet disaster in Egypt a fortnight ago.

Cameron has ordered a review of security at a number of airports around the world, with aviation specialists expected to conduct assessments over the next two months at locations in the Middle East and North Africa.

The Prime Minister also backed a proposal to "more than double Government spending on aviation security."

The new funding would provide additional aviation security experts to conduct regular assessments of security at airports around the world; more advice, training and equipment to increase security at airports in vulnerable countries; increased research into screening technology and so on, according to Downing Street. Endit