The Met is urging the public to be vigilant to counter possible terrorist threats.This year, above all others in recent memory, it is apparent to everyone that London faces a range of terrorist threats. It is vital that people are alert and report anything suspicious to police. Detectives want to encourage people to call the free confidential Anti-terrorist Hotline (0800 789 321) with information about people or activities that could be linked to terrorist crime. Anti-terrorist Branch officers are especially keen to talk to owners of commercial and residential property, motor traders, landlords and hoteliers. This is because terrorists need somewhere to live, somewhere to store their equipment, and they need vehicles to move around in. If you sell cars or let property and you have noticed something suspicious please contact 0800 789 321.
It is important to remember that the hotline is for information. If anyone sees a suspicious package or is confronted by an emergency they should dial 999 immediately.
Recently the Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the MET Police Anti-Terrorist Branch said, "The Metropolitan Police is doing everything possible to combat the threat of terrorism but it is only with the help and support of the public that we can reduce the harm which it causes."
That police/community partnership of is what the Paddington Hyde Park Sector Working Group (SWG) committee and its members are working hard to achieve. Chair of the SWG Lynda King Taylor, and her colleagues on committee Ibrahim El-Nour and Mostapha Ragab, Head of the Egyptian UK Association, agree on the urgency for public support to jointly fight crime. Following terrorism atrocities, and given the current climate of caution, they have said that "partnership across our multi-cultural community must be more magnanimous as well as mandatory. The Muslim community, who now form a core component and characteristic on our SWG, say they feel as vulnerable to the threats of terrorism as any other part of our inner city Paddington community. That is why in 2004 we must all work together in our SWG to not only reduce crime and disorder, but the perceived fear of crime and anti-social behaviour."
Ibrahim El-Nour stated at a recent SWG meeting that his Arabic community represented on the SWG were as "vulnerable to terrorism and crime as any other businesses and residents of Westminster. Partnership and community relations, such as we now share on our successful SWG, are essential to a confident, coming together, crime-free community -especially in these tense times."
Specialist Operations
The Metropolitan Police has various specialist units that work across the capital or which fulfill a national role. A number of these are grouped into a section of the organisation known as Specialist Operations. They deal with tasks such as intelligence, security, protection of politicians, embassies and royalty, and the investigation of certain categories of serious crimes, including racial and violent crime and terrorism. For more information visit - http://www.met.police.uk/so/
The UK Government has issued guidelines on terrorism. For more information visit - http://www.londonprepared.gov.uk/antiterrorism/
Anti-terror Authorities Get Extra £15m
Further to above, Special Branch at New Scotland Yard are being allocated a further £15m to gather intelligence on terrorist suspects.
Increasing the number of special branch officers will provide support to the new national network of special branch intelligence cells, working throughout the UK.
The counter terrorism branch of the Metropolitan police will receive £12m; £3m will go to strengthen regional co-operation throughout the country. This is in addition to £3m announced last month earlier Spring 2004
The Home Secretary said the security service and police service are at the frontline of countering terrorist threats.
"They do difficult and painstaking work to protect us from people engaged in long-term, sophisticated planning, using every means of science and technology to evade surveillance and detection," he said.
He added that the tragic events in Madrid Spring 2004 illustrated " more than ever the need for us to work closely with all our partners at home and abroad to prevent extremist activity. It is only through strengthening our ability to gather and share intelligence that we will meet our responsibilities to protect the public from national security threats."
The Home Secretary called for even closer co-operation between European states to combat the threat of terrorism. He said it was essential that the appeal of extremism be reduced. "We must address why people are drawn to terrorism and how we can improve social cohesion in our communities".
For more information on current anti terrorism measures visit the Home Office web site.
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