Police are to get an extra cash boost of ?20m to help fight organised crime, terrorism and political extremists.

The ring-fenced allocation is aimed at improving the logistical and intelligence co-ordination across the 43 constabularies in England and Wales. The extra money appears to be in response to concerns voiced both by senior police officials and businesses that the main government funding of the police lacked sufficient flexibility to deal effectively with cross-border criminality, terrorism and groups such as extremist animal rights activists.