The British public aid police in their anti-terror efforts with more than 3,600 contributions every day, making the UK “a hostile environment for those intent on terrorism”, Britain’s most senior counter-terrorism police officer says.
In an article for the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said the co-operation was the “greatest advantage”, where “every day ordinary men and women demonstrate their continued trust in UK policing by calling our confidential hotline to pass on potentially important information [and]calling 101 or speaking to neighbourhood officers to report concerns about someone who may be being radicalised.”
He said:
“Every call, every referral, every briefing is part of our joint fight against terrorism.
“The information we receive helps our investigations, intelligence-gathering and preventative work; they help us carry out significant protective security operations; they help us get the right support for vulnerable people, and they undermine the plans of terrorists.”
The assistant commissioner thanked the public for their support, but said “even more public assistance” was needed to combat the terror threat, which has been listed as “severe”, the second highest level, since 2014.
On Sunday, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe warned a terror attack in Britain is a case of “when, not if”, saying:
“I know that with each new outrage, and especially those on our doorstep in Europe, there is a greater sense of fear that Britain will be the next victim in this wave of cruel and mindless mass murder.
“I feel and understand that fear.”
