News

Public urged to be vigilant as lockdown eases

Specially-trained Project Servator officers have been deployed across London every day during lockdown, watching for people with terrorist and other criminal intent.

With the lockdown restrictions easing and more public spaces starting to open up, officers from the Metropolitan Police, City of London Police and British Transport Police are asking the public and businesses to join them in being vigilant for suspicious activity.

To help keep everyone safe from the threat of terrorism and wider criminality, police across London will be using a range of activities. In the coming weeks, Project Servator will continue with daily deployments of uniform and plain clothes officers who are specially trained to spot signs that someone may have criminal intent.

Chief Superintendent Dawn Morris, head of the Met’s Protective Security Command, said: "Over the past few weeks lockdown has meant that we have not been able to go about our daily lives as normal, but that doesn't mean that potential terrorists or criminals haven't been out and about. Since lockdown started, our skilled Project Servator officers have stopped people with criminal intent, seizing knives, suspected drugs and cash believed to be linked to crime."

"While many people will now be looking forward to going out to some of their favourite places, unfortunately there’s a good chance that others who have criminal intent may be in the same locations looking to exploit the easing of lockdown. We will continue to work hard to help keep you safe as lockdown eases, but you have a key role to play. We need everyone - from hairdressers to pub patrons - to help us by being vigilant and to report suspicious activity."

Throughout the lockdown, officers from the Met’s Protective Security Operations Command have also continued to provide counter terrorism advice, training and guidance to thousands of businesses across London, to help ensure staff remain security-conscious, alert for any suspicious activity and know what to do should the worst happen.

Partners

View the latest
digital issue