Public asked to help disrupt terrorist activity

23 January 2019, 16:11 | Updated: 23 January 2019, 16:14

A new cinema advert and social media campaign is urging people to act to disrupt terrorist activity.

This after it was revealed that the number of attacks across the UK foiled since March 2017 has risen to 18. 

The head of Counter Terrorism Policing South West, Detective Superintendent Ian Saunders, said: ''Thankfully, we did not see the horrors of 2017 repeated last year, but we should not be complacent enough to think the terrorist threat has diminished, the UK threat level remains at SEVERE meaning an attack is highly likely. 

''Counter Terrorism Policing officers are currently running more than 700 live investigations nationwide, while crucial intelligence from the public has helped police and the security services prevent 18 terror attacks in just under two years. 

''We have been emphasising for some time that communities defeat terrorism, and the fact that more and more reports from the public provide information that is useful to our officers demonstrates this. ''Despite this increasing support, I know some people are still reluctant to speak to us. To them I say, reporting your concerns to us won't ruin lives, but it might save them.''

Data analysed by Counter Terrorism Policing indicates that the public are consistently providing information which is relevant to police. 

So if you are still unsure about how or what to report to police then please visit www.counterterrorism.police.uk for more information on how you can help. 

D/Supt Saunders added: ''Like other criminals, terrorists need to plan and that creates opportunities for police and the security services to discover and stop these attacks before they happen. 

''But we need your help to exploit these opportunities, so if you see or hear something unusual or suspicious trust your instincts and ACT by reporting it in confidence by phone or online. 

''That could be someone buying or storing chemicals, fertilisers or gas cylinders for no obvious reasons, or receiving deliveries for unusual items, it could be someone embracing extremist ideology, or searching for such material online. 

''This new film has been made to try and help people understand recent terrorist attack-planning methods, but also to demonstrate that each report from the public can be one vital piece of a much larger picture. 

''The important thing for people to remember is that no report is a waste of our time, trust your instincts and tell us if something doesn't feel right.''