Vital role of public in defeating terrorism
On Monday we launched Counter Terrorism Awareness Week in Aberdeen, with police officers conducting high visibility engagement patrols throughout the city to raise awareness and offer reassurance.
The main focus of our week-long activity will be in the seven cities of Scotland with officers being deployed in Stirling today (Wednesday).
Last month, following the terrible incident in Manchester, the threat level from International Terrorism was raised to ‘Critical’, meaning an attack is expected imminently.
After four days it was reduced to ‘Severe’, meaning an attack is highly likely. There is no specific information or intelligence to suggest that Scotland will be the subject of a terrorist attack, however we must remain vigilant. Recent terrorist atrocities have demonstrated that attacks can happen anywhere and without warning.
Against this backdrop Police Scotland, together with our security partners, have been working tirelessly to identify and disrupt the terrorist threat, while at the same time raising public awareness of the risks and how we are responding.
The co-operation between the public and the police is a powerful defence. In recent years, attacks have been prevented and lives have been saved thanks to the public coming forward with information.
As your former Area Commander I know that Stirlingshire’s communities are well placed to defeat terrorism due to the close links that the police and our partners have with the public.
With this being said it is important we do not become complacent. The police rely on the full co-operation of the public to thwart the terrorist threat. By being our eyes and ears you can help keep yourself, your family and your local community safe by looking out for suspicious activity or behaviour and reporting it to the police, in confidence.
You may see or hear something that could be that vital piece of information needed to stop a terrorist attack. If you do, please report it.
What do we mean by suspicious activity or behaviour? Anything that seems out of place, unusual or just doesn’t seem to fit in with everyday life. You do not need to be certain to be suspicious. Go with your instincts and let us decide.
I would guess that everyone reading this article has, at some point in their life, seen something which they think is suspicious. We all have the ability to recognise suspicious activity but we do not always do something about it.
Tragic events this year remind us that attacks can occur at any time or place without warning.
By working together with the police, staying alert and thinking about your safety and security at home or work, or when you are out and about, you can make it harder for terrorists to plan or carry out an attack.
If you have any information about suspicious activity or behaviour, you can report it in confidence by calling the police on 101 or by phoning the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321.
Remember, in an emergency, if you need urgent police assistance, you should always dial 999.
When you make a report about suspicious activity or behaviour, our staff will take the details and pass these on for further checks. The information you provide will be kept secure and your identity will be protected. Don’t be concerned about wasting police time.
I would encourage you to approach the officers who are on patrol in Stirling today to find out more about how you can keep yourself and your family safe.
Our messages are“Be alert, not alarmed”and“Be vigilant and report suspicious behaviour”.