"Don’t rely on others. If
you suspect it, report it!" – that’s the key message to residents
and visitors in Dorset with the launch of a national anti-terrorist
campaign across the United Kingdom.
Dorset Police is reminding people
to be vigilant and alert but not alarmed as they go about their
daily business – and to call the strictly confidential
Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321 if they are concerned about
suspicious activity.
Superintendent Steve Bartlett of
Dorset Police said: "Terrorism knows no social, ethnic or religious
boundaries and suspicious activity perceived as potentially leading
to a terrorist act can be committed by anyone, regardless of
ethnicity.
"For example, such activity could
be linked to Animal Rights activists, religious extremists of all
backgrounds, Northern Irish terrorism and the like.
"Communities can defeat terrorism and everyone has a role
to play in helping to prevent terrorism by being alert, vigilant
but not alarmed and reporting any suspicious, unusual or out of the
ordinary activity – no matter how minor or insignificant it may
seem – to the police.
"We want people to look out for the
unusual – activity or behaviour that strikes them as not quite
right and out of place in their normal day-to-day lives – and take
responsibility for reporting it in the strictest confidence to the
Anti-Terrorist Hotline.
"Any piece of information given
could be important as it may be the final piece of the jigsaw for
police. Information passed to the Anti-Terrorist Hotline is treated
in the strictest confidence and thoroughly analysed and researched
by experienced officers before, and if, any police action is
taken.
"Although the threat of attack by
terrorists remains very real across the country, the information
campaign has not been launched in response to any specific threat.
It’s part of our continuing work with communities to make them even
safer.
"The Anti-Terrorism Hotline is
staffed by specialist officers and it’s important that the public
trusts their instincts, calls in with any information they have and
lets the police decide if the information is important," explained
Superintendent Bartlett.
Suspicious activity can
include:
- Someone noticeably behaving differently for no obvious
reason.
- Someone with a large number of mobile phones for no obvious
reason.
- Someone with passports or other documents in different names
for no obvious reason.
- Someone who travels for long periods of time but is vague about
where they are going.
- Someone buying or storing large amounts of chemicals for no
obvious reason.
- Someone taking an interest in security – like CCTV cameras – for no obvious
reason.
Superintendent Bartlett explained:
"Terrorists can be stopped in their tracks if suspicious, unusual
or out of the ordinary activity is passed to the police. They will
not succeed if people report something unusual that they have seen
or heard while going about their daily lives. Terrorists can live
alongside us in our communities," explained Superintendent
Bartlett.
In the event of an emergency, a
life-threatening situation or if a bomb or explosive device is
found, the public should dial 999 and not the Anti-Terrorist
Hotline.
The confidential
Anti-Terrorist Hotline can be contacted on 0800 789 321. People who
are deaf – or have hearing difficulties – can use a text phone to
dial 0800 032 4539.