Security systems will alert police to attempts to tamper with supplies
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New security is being introduced to protect Devon and Cornwall's water supplies from sabotage. The work follows a visit to the area by MI5 officers, to study vulnerabilities in Britain's water infrastructure. Senior police sources say the security measures are not in response to a specific threat, but precautionary. The work involves systems to alert the authorities about attempts to tamper with supplies and prompt the police to send armed officers. 'Al-Qaeda' The cost of the new security is being met by South West Water and the government. Bill Tupman, an expert on counter-terrorism from Exeter University, told BBC News: "The problem is trying to predict the mind of the al-Qaeda planner; there are so many things they might do. "And it is also necessary to reassure the public that we are trying to outguess the al-Qaeda planner and we are in the process of protecting them from any threat." South West Water declined to be interviewed, but said in a statement that it was not company policy to discuss security matters. The Home Office said it did not comment on the work of the security services.
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