Mike Barton: Bobbies on the beat play vital role in our war on terror

"THE rare show of brotherhood and unity at Wembley Stadium this week between England and France would have been unconditionally heart-warming had it not been for the tragic background to the minute's silence.

The threats that we face in Europe now are obviously different.

• Comment: Snuffing out the first sparks of danger

Police and security agencies have been working flat out to protect the public and we are currently working on hundreds of active investigations and, on average, nationally we are making an arrest a day.

The Prime Minister has spoken of increased resources for the National Security Services and the SAS. These unprecedented commitments have been made because the terrorists we currently face pose a more sinister threat than ever before.

Fans hold a French flag outside Wembley Stadium in London where the French football team was playing England 

So far I think it is reasonable for us all to recognise that the border security of the UK is stronger than mainland Europe because we have the benefit of a natural moat and secondarily the gun controls in the UK are the most stringent in the world.

These safeguards though cannot guarantee success.

The current threat levels are designated as "severe". This means that an attack is highly likely.

I can fully understand the argument that we should invest in our national security services because the threats we currently face are international.

However, it is the bobby on the beat who works in neighbourhoods who will glean and spot the clues that will allow us to intervene prior to radicalisation or murderous action.

We now know that this can come from any community whether it is the North-East, Gloucester, Lancashire, the South-East or any community.

The 7/7 bombing tragically occurred in London but the bombs were made in Leeds.

The ambition of terrorists is to create discord, distrust and fear. The heart of success in fighting terrorism is not the hard nosed investigations and arrests - important as they are - it is the relationship between the public and the police which needs to be stronger than ever.

Communities where terrorists can hide must become difficult for the terrorist if not toxic.

It is always tricky to balance the message when terrorist acts occur. It is only natural that you may be considering how to adopt different patterns of behaviour in the face of the perceived danger.

However, I would like to say to people that they should be alert not alarmed.

I have been in policing for over 35 years and I have never seen a more active, visible and transparent approach to counter terrorism by our security services than is currently underway.

Should the worst occur then we are prepared.

Since the attacks in Mumbai in 2011 happened we have been planning for marauding attacks by a number of terrorists who will attack multiple sites simultaneously.

This is the style of attack that we have witnessed now twice in France this year alone.

The principal police response will come from our joint Durham and Cleveland Specialist Firearms Unit.

The first responders though are likely to be unarmed police officers, uniquely that is how we police in this country.

Throughout my career I have planned for threats from Irish Republican terrorists, armed organised criminal gangs and now international Islamist terrorists.

Every one of those threats has resulted in an understandable debate as to whether officers should be armed or not.

Personally, I feel we have always come to the right conclusion that our unarmed model of policing where we work closely with communities is the best way of reacting to these threats.

It should not be overlooked in all the tragedy of events in France that French officers are already routinely armed.

I am sure that the Home Secretary and other senior members of the Government are now thinking of how we face this problem.

I have heard some of my chief officer colleagues say that their neighbourhood police officers are under threat because of budget cuts. That is not the case, so far, in Durham Constabulary.

Not only are our neighbourhood officers the safety net of a reassuring visible presence in communities but they are the people with their ear to the ground to spot those who may be contemplating acts of terror, or who have the confidence of members of the community who will voice their suspicions to a friendly ear rather than to a remote service.

I hope many of you enjoyed the Lumière spectacle in Durham City this weekend.

The festivities were marred somewhat by occasional rain storms that would have floated Noah's ark, but none of that seemed to dampen the spirits of people charmed by inspirational art works.

Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle became the backdrops for, on the one hand the creation of the universe and on the other, Grimms' Fairytales.

On Saturday night the Castle and the Cathedral were bathed in the Tricolor, stripes of red, white and blue, a poignant and moving symbol of unity with those who had died or been bereaved in Paris.

Eagle-eyed spectators would have noticed that there was an increased police presence.

This was planned.

We wanted to be in a position to reassure those who might have been more nervous about being in crowded public places.

This will continue to be our strategy and both I and Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg will strive to ensure that it continues to be resourced.

The national picture is clear and joined-up: the public are asked if they see or hear anything suspicious to contact police or the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321."