One in five tip-offs to Counter Terror Police useful to officers

North West Counter Terrorism Officers have said people need to be on the look out and report suspicious activity, in the fight against terrorism.

It comes as a new campaign launches, highlight terror attack planning methods.

More than a fifth of reports from the public, to the UK Counter Terror Unit, have produced intelligence which is helpful to the police.

The second phase of the 'Action Counters Terrorism' campaign features a new 60-second film based on real-life foiled polits, showing examples of terrorist-related suspicious activity and behaviour.

Officers are urging people to report anything suspicious via an online reporting tool.

Detective Chief Superintendent Dominic Scally, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North West said: “We want people to trust their instincts and ACT by reporting in confidence something they feel is unusual or suspicious. Like other criminals, terrorists need to plan and that one piece of information could be vital in helping us to stop an attack. We need the help of communities to defeat terrorism and this campaign will inform people of what to look out for and how to report their concerns.”

Since the beginning of 2017, 10 Islamist and four right wing terror plots have been foiled across the country. Of the nearly 31000 public reports to Counter Terrorism (CT) Policing during 2017, more than 6600 (21.2%) resulted in useful intelligence - information which is used by UK officers to inform live investigations or help build an intelligence picture of an individual or group.

Signs to look out for include:

• Hiring large vehicles or similar for no obvious reasons

• Buying or storing a large amount of chemicals, fertilisers or gas cylinders for no obvious reasons

• Taking notes or photos of security arrangements, or inspecting CCTV cameras in an unusual way

• Looking at extremist material, including on the so-called Dark Web, or sharing and creating content that promotes or glorifies terrorism.

• Someone receiving deliveries for unusual items bought online.

• Embracing or actively promoting hateful ideas or an extremist ideology.

• Possessing firearms or other weapons or showing an interest in obtaining them

• Holding passports or other documents in different names, for no obvious reasons

• Anyone who goes away travelling for long periods of time but is vague about where

• Someone carrying out suspicious or unusual bank transactions

The police are keen to stress people will not be wasting officers' time if they report a suspicion:

'No call or click will be ignored. What you tell us is treated in the strictest confidence and is thoroughly researched by experienced officers before, and if, any police action is taken.'

Like other criminals, terrorists need to plan. If you see or hear something unusual or suspicious trust your instincts and ACT by reporting it in confidence at gov.uk/ACT or, in an emergency, dial 999