POLICE are calling upon Redditch people to help tackle increasingly complex and varied terrorist threats.
With the threat of terror becoming increasingly complex and varied, police are calling on communities to act on their instincts to help prevent atrocities taking place in the UK and overseas.
The appeal comes as new figures reveal that information from the public has assisted counter terrorism police in a third of the most ‘high-risk’ investigations, helping keep communities safe.
The UK’s most senior counter terrorism officer, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, will launch a new ‘Action Counters Terrorism’, or ‘ACT’, campaign today (Monday, March 6) urging the public to report suspicious activity to the police.
Mr Rowley will tell an audience of community and business representatives in Manchester that information from the public continues to help keep people safe by playing a significant part in recent successes in countering terrorism. However, officers need even more information to build better intelligence pictures on individuals or groups plotting attacks.
This comes as the threat, which remains ‘Severe’ meaning an attack is highly likely, continues to diversify and expand. This is seen in cases where terrorists have been able to reach across the world to radicalise often vulnerable, volatile or chaotic individuals and groups, and inspire and direct them using instant and secure communications.
Mr Rowley said: “It is very encouraging that in a third of cases involving our most serious terrorist suspects we have benefited from information from the public. The number of calls and online reports we receive is increasing. This is testament to people’s trust in the police – but now we are appealing for even more.
“Counter terrorism policing is working hard to keep the public safe. Together, the UK intelligence community (MI5, SIS, GCHQ) and police have disrupted 13 UK terrorist attack plots since June 2013.”
“However, advances in technology make it more complex and challenging for us to spot would-be terrorists because it’s easier for them to be in contact with others and be radicalised in a relatively short space of time.
“The threat is becoming more varied and the move towards low-tech attacks on crowded places, like those we have seen in major European cities and beyond, makes it even more important everyone remains vigilant and acts by calling us confidentially if they are concerned about suspicious activity.”
Security Minister Ben Wallace added: “The horror of recent terrorist attacks in Europe and beyond is a shocking reminder of the threat we all face. We know that we are not immune as the threat to the UK is currently assessed as ‘Severe’, meaning an attack is highly likely.
“Our police and security and intelligence agencies work tirelessly, often unseen, day in and day out to keep families and communities across the country safe. The public also have a vital role to play as they are ideally placed to notice activity which is unusual.
“I welcome the police’s ACT campaign which raises awareness about what to look out for and provides people with easy-to-access advice.
“Ultimately, this is a job for all of us. I encourage people to follow the campaign’s message to remain alert but not alarmed by the threat and report any concerns to the police.”
Last year (April 2015 to March 2016) the Anti-Terrorist Hotline, received more than twice the number of calls on the previous year with just over 22,000 people making contact. Officers hope the figures will continue to increase if more can be done to encourage people to call or report online.
Research to support the ACT campaign looked at public attitudes towards counter terrorism policing. Over 80 percent of respondents said that it was important for communities to work with police to prevent terrorism. However, a quarter of those surveyed said they might not report their suspicions because of fears over wasting police time, and 39 percent were unsure about what suspicious behaviour might look like.
Mr Rowley added: “Our call and report numbers are increasing and research has shown many people want to play their part, but some worry they might be wasting our time or they are not sure what sort of activity might be suspicious. So we want to allay those concerns and help them to help us.”
More information on what to look out for can be found at gov.uk/ACT where you can report your concerns online or by calling police confidentially on 0800 789321.
