Counter terrorism projects
These pages provide information and links to counter terrorism
advice and on the role you can play in helping to defeat
terrorism.
The safety of all our communities remains an absolute priority
and our message to the public is to remain vigilant.
To report something suspicious please let us know by calling the
Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.
A Textphone facility for people who are deaf or
who have hearing difficulties is available on 0800 0324
539. Remember to always dial 999 in an
emergency.
The Anti-Terrorist Hotline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year. All calls and information are treated in the strictest
of confidence. All information received by the Hotline is
thoroughly investigated by specialist officers before any police
action is considered.
Everyone has a role to play in fighting terrorism and the public
are being encouraged to contact the confidential
Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321 if they see
any activity or behaviour they think is suspicious.
Support after a major incident
After any major incident you may want to make
enquiries about someone that you believe might have been involved.
There are ways you can do this, including using a Police Casualty
Bureau or helpline. Police Family Liaison Officers may also have a
role after an incident. For further information please visit the Direct.gov major
incident support pages.
Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit
We have a dedicated Counter-Terrorist Intelligence Unit (CTIU)
which works alongside the rest of the force in protecting and
reassuring the public, and reducing the risk from terrorism. The
Unit engages with all communities, local authorities, higher
education and universities, as well as many other local bodies, in
order to prevent violent extremism. The Unit also offers specialist
protective security advice to locations deemed to be at a greater
risk from terrorism.
CTIU are involved in the disruption and detection of terrorist
activity and has close links between local police and the
communities they serve. CTIU work at airports and ports in
conjunction with the UK Border Agency.
Airports, airfields and maritime
Sussex Police is working in partnership with Gatwick Airport on
Project Griffin, a national
counter-terrorism initiative. This initiative aims to protect our
cities and communities from the threat of terrorism and crime and
to improve communication links between Sussex Police, Gatwick
Airport and the community. We are recognised as the lead
airport within the UK for Project Griffin.
Project Kraken is a national police
maritime crime and counter-terrorism strategy linked to other
police forces, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) and the Serious And
Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). It provides a reporting system which
protects the UK coastline against terrorism, serious organised
crime such as human and drugs trafficking and the theft of boats
and equipment.
Project Pegasus is a national police
crime and counter-terrorism strategy linked to other police forces,
the UK Border Agency (UKBA) and The Serious And Organised Crime
Agency (SOCA). The project provides a reporting system which
protects UK airspace against terrorism, serious organised crime
such as human and drugs trafficking and the theft of aircraft and
equipment.
Photography and filming
Members of the public and the media do not need a permit to film
or photograph in public places and police have no power to stop
them filming or photographing incidents or police personnel.
The power to stop and search someone under Section 44 of the
Terrorism Act 2000 no longer exists.
Photography, filming and Section 43 of the Terrorism Act
2000
Police officers continue to have the power to stop and search
anyone who they reasonably suspect to be a terrorist under Section
43 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The purpose of this search is to
find out if the person holds anything which may be
evidence that they are a terrorist, inlcuding digital images
contained in mobile telephones or cameras. Officers also have the
power to seize and retain any potential evidence found during
the search, including any mobile telephone or camera.
Officers do not have the power to delete digital images or
destroy film at any point during a search. Deletion or destruction
may only take place following seizure if there is a lawful power
(such as a court order) that permits such deletion or
destruction.
Photography, filming and Section 58A of the
Terrorism Act 2000
Section 58A of the Terrorism Act 2000 covers "the offence of
eliciting, publishing or communicating information about members of
the armed forces, intelligence services or police where the
information is, by its very nature, designed to provide practical
assistance to a person committing or preparing an act of
terrorism."
Any officer making an arrest for an offence under Section 58A
must be able to demonstrate a reasonable suspicion that the
information was, by its very nature, designed to provide practical
assistance to a person committing or preparing an act of
terrorism
It would ordinarily be unlawful to use section 58A to arrest
people photographing police officers in the course of normal
policing activities, including protests because there would not
normally be grounds for suspecting that the photographs were being
taken to provide assistance to a terrorist. An arrest would only be
lawful if an arresting officer had a reasonable suspicion that the
photographs were being taken in order to provide practical
assistance to a person committing or preparing an act of
terrorism.
There is nothing preventing officers asking questions of an
individual who appears to be taking photographs of someone who is
or has been a member of Her Majesty's Forces (HMF), Intelligence
Services or a constable so long as this is being done for a lawful
purpose and is not being done in a way that prevents, dissuades or
inhibits the individual from doing something which is not
unlawful.