A CAMPAIGN about counter terrorism is being brought to Ryedale to raise awareness of what, when and how to report suspicious activity to help prevent terrorist attacks.

The ACT campaign - which stands for Action Counters Terrorism - was launched last month by the UK Counter Terrorism Police and takes the form of a series of volunteer-led community roadshows.

The first of the roadshows was held at the Brunswick Shopping Centre in Scarborough on Thursday. Police officers and volunteers handed out leaflets encouraging members of the public to report anything they see or hear that could be terrorist related.

Further roadshows will follow throughout the spring and summer at public events, including Malton Food Market on April 14 and Dalby Forest Moors and Shores Adventure Cross cycling event on April 15, where general crime prevention advice and property marking will also be available.

Chief Inspector Andy Colbourne, deputy command for the Scarborough and Ryedale area, said: “My thanks go to our volunteers for their support in taking the ACT campaign into our communities.

“Everyone has a part to play to keep our neighbourhoods safe and knowing what to look out for and how to report your suspicions will be a huge help.”

The head of counter terrorism, Assistant Commissioner of Specialist Operations Neil Basu, said that last year saw record numbers of people contacting the police through online referral forms and the confidential hotline to report suspicious behaviour and activity.

“We have been saying for some time now that communities defeat terrorism, and these figures demonstrate just how important members of the public are in the fight to keep our country safe,” he said.

“Since the beginning of 2017 we have foiled 10 Islamist and four right wing terror plots, and there is no doubt in my mind that would have been impossible to do without relevant information from the public.”

Of the nearly 31,000 public reports to Counter Terrorism (CT) Policing during 2017, more than 6,600 (21.2 per cent) resulted in useful information which was used by UK officers to help build an intelligence picture of an individual or group.