GLOUCESTERSHIRE Constabulary is supporting a national campaign to raise awareness of how to help keep people safe from the threat of terrorism.

Counter Terrorism Awareness Week launches today, November 24 and will see every police force working to raise awareness of the threat of terrorism and talking with their communities about related issues.

The week is led by the Association of Chief Police Officers and Gloucestershire officers will be working with communities and partner agencies to focus on how we can prevent terrorism and strengthen resilience to counter the threat from violent extremism and terrorism.

Today officers have been at the Cheltenham Borough Council offices on the Promenade to enlist the help and support of individuals and businesses responsible for the safety and security of buildings in the town, so that they can be on the alert for terrorist incidents and know what to do if one should happen.

The scheme also provides an official and direct channel through which police can share and update vital information relating to security and crime prevention.

The UK’s counter-terrorism strategy CONTEST, focuses on four key areas; pursue, prevent, protect and prepare. Most of the publicity around terrorism is based on ‘pursue’ and ‘prevent’, as these involve arrests, the disrupting of actual attack plots and turning people away from extremism.

Assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, The Association of Chief Police Officers lead for counter terrorism, said: “Police officers and our partners are continuing to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to protect the UK from a terrorist attack.

“Please tell us if you know or suspect something; your information could save lives. We will deal with information passed to us carefully and respond sensitively and proportionately.”

Throughout the week police all over the country will be speaking to students in schools and universities about the Prevent strategy, which provides practical help to stop people from being drawn into terrorism; with theatre groups performing at some schools to raise awareness.

Nationally, police dogs will be detecting large amounts of money at ports, airports and railway stations to prevent cash leaving the UK for terrorist purposes.

Other events will follow through the week, showing how police work with farmers to ensure that fertilizers are stored securely and with charities to advise people about safe ways to donate money to ensure that they do not unknowingly fund terrorism.

Police forces will also be using social media to engage people in the conversation.