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<p>The Home Office keeps the UK’s preparedness for terrorist attack under constant
review, and is delivering a £144 million programme to increase numbers of armed police
officers in the UK. The first phase of the armed uplift is complete, with an additional
41 Armed Response Vehicles and around 650 armed officers. The next phase - an increase
in Counter-Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers - is expected to complete in 2018,
with a proportion to be based in Manchester.</p><p>The Home Office also trains and
equips specialist fire and ambulance teams to manage casualties in higher risk environments.
These capabilities are deployable to a terrorist incident occurring anywhere in the
UK, including in Greater Manchester. The emergency services’ response to the recent
terrorist attack in Manchester was fast and effective, with at least six armed response
vehicles arriving at the incident within ten minutes.</p>
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