LABOUR blasted Sajid Javid’s updated counter-terrorism strategy today, warning that only a properly funded police force will protect Britain from potential attacks.

The Home Secretary unveiled the government’s updated Contest strategy, which will see MI5 intelligence passed to councils, local authorities or government departments.

Mr Javid claimed the scheme would include strict safeguards and only involve the passing of basic biographical details, adding that “one of the lessons from 2017 was that we need to work more broadly and share that data more locally.”

The Contest strategy document says the government “will share information more widely and support more local interventions with individuals in our own communities who are being groomed or incited to commit or support acts of terrorism.”

It added that “by alerting a greater number of agencies to individuals of potential concern, we will improve our ability to assess the risk they pose whilst also being able to bring to bear a broader, larger set of local interventions.”

But shadow home secretary Diane Abbott warned that underfunding the police was undermining efforts to combat terrorism and dismissed the government’s focus on local authorities as a “red herring.”

She said the Tories had consistently “underfunded counter-terrorism policing and cut police officer numbers by 21,000” since taking power in 2010, adding: “Police leaders and the rank and file have publicly complained that cuts are undermining their ability to fight terrorism.

“The Tories’ focus on local authorities is a red herring when they have savagely and irresponsibly cut our police force’s budget.”

Ms Abbott said a review by former terrorism legislation watchdog David Anderson QC called on the government to improve its efforts to tackle terrorism.

But, she said, “shockingly Sajid Javid has largely ignored the review’s recommendations. Just as bad, it looks like he’s not providing any new resources."

Ms Abbott concluded: “A properly funded police force, working with communities, counter-terror experts and MI5, that can make the difference.

“However, as we have seen with the Prevent strategy, these new plans could also lead to inappropriate targeting of communities, and lead to further the alienation we need to reduce.”