Britain Urged on Homeland Security

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 2:22 p.m. ET

LONDON (AP) -- Britain's government should appoint a senior official with overall responsibility for domestic security, similar to the U.S. Homeland Security adviser, the main opposition party said Wednesday.

The Conservative Party said the post would help reassure the public that the government was doing all it could to prevent terrorist attacks. Britain is Washington's main ally in the war on terrorism and has recently issued several warnings of possible attacks.

``I am increasingly concerned there does not seem to be a single weighty political figure responsible for all aspects of homeland defense,'' said Oliver Letwin, the Conservative home-affairs spokesman.

But Prime Minister Tony Blair and Home Secretary David Blunkett, the minister responsible for domestic security, said things were fine as they are.

``It is extremely important that we make every preparation, yes, but also make sure we do not unnecessarily alarm people,'' Blair told lawmakers in the House of Commons.

Blunkett, who is also in charge of immigration and crime, warned in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corp. that ``there's nothing more dangerous than taking away direct responsibility and accountability from those who should carry it.''

Homeland Security adviser Tom Ridge's post was created after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. On Tuesday the Senate voted to create a vast new Homeland Security Department, merging 22 agencies with combined budgets of about $40 billion.

Britain appointed a senior civil servant, Sir David Omand, to coordinate security and intelligence work within the government after the Sept. 11 attacks.