Terror response could fuel fear

There’s no getting away from it, we live in troubling times. Our hearts have been broken by atrocities in places such as Nice, Paris and Brussels, and the events in those cities have brought home just how vulnerable we are to indiscriminate acts of terrorism.

And now we are told that as a result we will be getting more armed police in Kent, in response to the rising threat levels.

But while few would argue that we don’t need to be investing in counter-terrorism, is there not something counter-intuitive about being told to get used to the sight of guns in the name of safety?

We may be getting more accustomed to automatic weapons being on view in airports, but glimpsing them on an amble around Canterbury Cathedral, or Tasers on a shopping trip to Bluewater, will be a shock to the system for many, and something that itself can be disturbing and incite anxiety.

Kent Police insist the increase isn’t in response to any direct threat, and is simply in line with Home Office policy. And some experts have suggested that the announcement is nothing more than a PR stunt to show a visible response to the perceived dangers from extremists, when the best way to defend ourselves is to focus on behind-the-scenes intelligence gathering and grassroots policing.

But even if it has just been done with the intention of making us feel safer, let’s not forget that terrorism is not just about violence – it is about intimidation, and the threat of violence. And surely one of the best weapons that we have against that is not allowing that fear to breed, or impact on our way of life.