Firearms police end ‘terror attack’ patrols

TEMPORARY armed police patrols of crowded places in Leicestershire over the Christmas and New year period have come to an end.

The operation was put in place following suspected terrorist attacks in Europe.

A truck ploughed into a busy Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 and injuring 48 in December last year.

A few days earlier, Russia’s ambassador to Turkey was assas- sinated in Ankara by a lone Turkish gunman in what world leaders called a “provocative terrorist attack”.

In response, firearms officers stepped up patrols in popular areas in Leicestershire with guns clearly on display over the festive period.

The move was designed to provide greater reassurance during a busy time and serve as a deterrent, police said.

The operation was run by EMOpSS, the East Midlands Operational Support Service.

Chief superintendent Ian Howick, head of EMOpSS, said: “Our officers were asked to carry out highly visible patrols when they were not responding to specific incidents.

“They carried patrols around shopping centres, in city centres and at sports venues and the overwhelming response from the public, both on social media and face to face with the officers themselves, was very positive.

“Our aim was to alert people, not alarm them, and I hope we achieved that.

“While the officers have now returned to their usual, less visible style of policing, we cannot rule out the possibility of using overtly armed patrols again in the future.”

The threat level to the UK from a terrorist attack has remained at ‘severe’, the second highest level, since August 2014.