In a unique new project the Metropolitan Police has launched a podcast telling the untold stories of how terror attacks on British soil have been stopped.
The podcast, narrated by actor Mark Strong, is part of the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) campaign which urges the public to report anything suspicious.
It has been revealed that the public has helped counter terror police in a third of their most “high risk” investigations as the campaign was launched on Monday (March 6).
A spokesman for the police said: "In one episode: 'Multiple Bombings', a former Special Branch officer explains the race against time to secure vital evidence right under the nose of a terrorist suspect in a highly sensitive covert operation.
"We also hear - for the very first time - from a member of the public who acted on her instincts after seeing something suspicious and called police, helping detectives locate core ingredients for a massive bomb."
Commander Simon Bray, head of the Met Police Security and Specialist Operations, said: “Met officers, along with the rest of the counter terrorism network, are working tirelessly to keep the public safe, however, advances in technology make it more complex challenging for us to spot would-be terrorists, with radicalisation taking place in a relatively short space of time using encrypted communications.
“Everyone has seen the impact of low technical level attacks on crowded places in other cities across the world, making it even more important that we all remain vigilant and people act, by calling us confidentially, if they are concerned about any suspicious activity.”
The terror threat in the UK remains at "severe", meaning an attack is highly likely.
According to the Met, last year more than 22,000 people contacted the anti-terrorist hotline and officers are hoping this can be increased in the future.
A survey of 2,198 people, carried out as part of the ACT campaign, revealed 80% of people said it was important for communities to work with police to prevent acts of terror.
However a quarter of people said they might not report suspicions for fear of wasting police time, while 39% said they were unsure what suspicious behaviour would look like.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “As the face of terrorism continues to change and develop, the public plays a increasingly vital part in the ongoing fight against it.
“We know their information makes a real difference, so I urge Londoners to keep their eyes and ears open and immediately report anything suspicious to the police .”
The new podcast, called "Code Severe", is a two part series which details stories from counter terror detectives, bomb disposal and surveillance officers.
The UK's most senior counter terrorism officers, Met Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said: “Our first ever podcast series explains, in a compelling and engaging way, how members of the public acted on their instincts and helped saves lives.
“By being more open about the threat and our work to confront it we hope the public will feel better informed and more confident in coming forward.”
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