Counter-terrorism police chief says forces ‘rely on the public’ for information as reports halve – and now fears ‘lone wolf’ actors pose more threat than organized gangs

Police are “relying on the public” to spot suspected terrorist activity over the festive period as “lone wolves” now pose a greater threat than organized gangs, a senior officer has warned.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Jon Savell spoke out as latest statistics show reports to counter-terrorism police have soared by 50 per cent this year.

The public, which acts as the “eyes and ears” of officers, is now the “fundamental element” in the fight against terrorism, added Savell, speaking as senior national coordinator of the government’s “protect and prepare” counterterrorism strategy.

This year, reports of suspicious activity to the anti-terrorism hotline have increased by half.

The cause of this increase is uncertain, but contacts make a difference in investigations, according to the counterterrorism police (CTP).

Last year, there were 52 more arrests for terrorist offenses than in 2022, an increase of 31% and the highest number in a single year since 2019.

Christmas shopping, festive markets, pantomimes and concerts could attract terrorist activity, the CTP has warned, reminding people that “everyone has a role to play in keeping everyone safe” by spotting and reporting activity. suspicious.

Mr Savell strolled through a bustling London Bridge Christmas market with Security Minister Dan Jarvis on Thursday afternoon to discuss terrorist policing during the winter months.

After the meeting, Mr Savell told the PA news agency: “Things have changed from a historically well-organized group hostile to state-sponsored terrorism to lone actors.

“Nowadays, a lot of people get information from the Internet, they sit at home discovering this information and become radicalized online.

“Those are the ones that I think we’re most concerned about – what we call unsophisticated, so using vehicles, knives, not guns or bombs that we might have seen traditionally.”

When asked how this change influences police tactics, he replied: “I think the main thing is to rely on members of the public, so that’s what we have to do: the public is our eyes and our ears.

“Without public support and oversight, it makes our job much more difficult.

“Don’t worry (if you) think (you’re) going to get someone in trouble, we’ll take care of it.”

“People are spotting individuals doing what could be hostile reconnaissance, or looking like they’re up to no good? Tell us.

Last year saw the highest number of young people arrested for terrorist offenses since records began on September 11, 2001, according to the CTP.

In total, 19 percent of the 219 terrorism-related arrests made last year involved youth aged 17 or younger.

Mr Savell said: “We are certainly seeing a lot more young people getting involved, becoming radicalized, seeing things on the internet that actually change their ideology and their thoughts, and they are young and very often vulnerable.

“I think social media, as valuable as it is, can also be incredibly destructive, and so easily spread and very difficult to control, and I think that’s our biggest problem.”

Counter-terrorism police are seeing a rapid increase in the number of suspects fascinated by extreme violence, a senior Met officer said on Wednesday.

Asked if there was anything driving this trend beyond social media, Mr Savell said: “I don’t think there’s anything else that I would particularly highlight.

“It’s up to us and others to be vigilant about what their friends, their children, their partners are doing and seeing on social networks, and to give them some advice.”

The CTP said it has more than 800 ongoing investigations, most in partnership with MI5, and works with the intelligence services of MI5 and GCHQ to understand and prevent radicalization.

He has prevented 43 late-stage attacks alongside MI5, including three in the last 12 months.

Security Minister Mr Jarvis told the AP: “The police are doing a fantastic job keeping people safe, but we are asking the public to remain vigilant – to keep their eyes peeled if they see something he thinks is suspicious, to report it to the police.

“The public is very sensible, they will make a judgment based on their intuition as to whether something they see is unusual or not.

“If you have any concerns about any activity you see, report it to the police, who can then make a decision on how best to proceed and respond.”

The current terrorist threat is “substantial,” meaning an attack is likely.