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Although police forces across the country report isolated incidents of abuse, threats, assaults and some damage to property amongst minority communities in the wake of Thursday’s explosions in London, ACPO assesses that the general community response is reassuringly calm.
All incidents are being thoroughly investigated. It is clear to the ACPO team which is monitoring developments across the country that there is also an increased level of concern and feelings of vulnerability within a number of communities, especially Muslim ones, but it is also clear that there has not been an upsurge of violence or abuse, and forces assess that there has not been any significant increase since Thursday.
ACPO President Chris Fox said today; "All police forces are being kept aware of developments in London. We continue to work with all forces to help ensure that their own contingency plans are in place for any eventuality. They are also aiming to provide the right balance between maintaining public awareness of the terrorist threat, and providing the right level of support to re-assure all communities that they are being protected. That includes extra police presence wherever locally appropriate.”
Forces reports include arson attacks on mosques, in Leeds, Belvedere, Telford and
Birkenhead, mainly causing little damage; some verbal abuse in the street; some
criminal damage to cars, businesses and homes. Fuller details are being collated by
individual forces.
Mr Fox adds:
“There is no doubt that there will have been other low level incidents that have not yet been reported to police. We encourage everyone to report this type of obnoxious and dangerous behaviour, from whatever quarter, for full police investigation as we are determined that there will be a very robust enforcement response to it.
“But we are encouraged by the overall calm community response, locally and nationally, to these terrible events. I am cautiously optimistic that common sense and the best instincts of everyone are prevailing.”
ACPO is also ensuring through the Police National Information and Co-ordination Centre (PNICC) that the Metropolitan Police Service receive any extra police support they may seek in responding to the tragic events of last Thursday. In particular more than 20 forces have been providing staff to help the Met Casualty Bureau deal with calls through ‘Casweb’ the nationally linked police IT system which enables forces anywhere in the country to support another force (the Met in this case) in taking high levels of enquiries from the public on the single number 0870 156 6344 about loved ones they think may have been injured. Other support includes provision of local police Family Liaison Officers where necessary to help bereaved relatives.
Mr Fox added:
“It is vital that anyone with anyone with any information, however insignificant they may think it is, contacts the national Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789321.
“It is also vital that we do not let these terrible events divide our communities. Britain is a diverse society, but one with a great sense of cohesiveness and confidence, something which has been remarkably demonstrated over the few days.
“We have to be clear that the people who carried out these acts are criminals. What they did was mass murder. It is therefore absolutely crucial that there should no reaction against any section of the community. That would simply play into the hands of the murderers. As well as taking action to prevent it, police will deal robustly with any such behaviour that actually takes place.”
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NOTES FOR EDITORS;
• The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7227 3406/3425 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).
• All enquiries about the police investigation of the incidents must be directed to the 24-hour Metropolitan Police Service press bureau on 020 7230 2171.
• Through a series of committees and working groups ACPO members, often in consultation with develop policy and guidance for the police service. The Association aims to assist chief officers in providing excellence in leadership of the service; to ensure a professional and ethical service is delivered to all communities; and to provide professional advice to Government. Police Authorities other organisations and individuals with an interest in policing issues.
• ACPO’s 312 members are police officers of Assistant Chief Constable rank (Commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, and senior police staff managers, in the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, plus national agencies such as NCIS and the National Crime Squad, and other forces such as British Transport Police and States of Jersey Police.
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