Do police need extra powers to tackle terrorism in the UK? Join The Independent Debate

Downing Street has said it has no plans to grant police more powers, despite the Metropolitan Police chief calling on the government to consider tougher legislation

(PA)

Would you feel safer in the UK if police had more powers to tackle terrorism?

This week Downing Street has said it has no plans to do this, despite the Metropolitan Police chief calling on the government to consider tougher legislation.

Sir Mark Rowley met the home secretary Suella Braverman to discuss her demand for officers to use of the “full force of the law” after video emerged of a pro-Palestinian activist chanting “jihad”.

Speaking to journalists after a “constructive” meeting with Ms Braverman, Sir Mark suggested that laws around extremism should be redrawn. He said: “The law that we’ve designed around hate crime and terrorism over recent decades hasn’t taken full account of the ability in extremist groups to steer around those laws and propagating the truly toxic messages through social media.”

No 10 signalled on Monday that police are unlikely to be given more powers to address chants and other forms of protests deemed to be pro-extremist - but is this the right call?

We want to know whether you would welcome more powers to allow police officers to tackle terrorism. Or are the options already in place sufficient enough to allow demonstrations to go ahead without impinging on our fundamental right to free speech?

If you want to share your opinion then add it in the comments and we’ll highlight the most insightful ones as they come in.

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