Specialist police officers have been out at a popular south Essex shopping centre today in force.
Shoppers may have seen a big police presence at Lakeside shopping centre today as Essex Police's special constables have returned as part of a Project Servator deployment to keep customers and staff safe.
The officers have received specialist training for this project so that they can spot the tell-tale signs someone might be information gathering to help them commit a crime, including terrorism.
They have also been speaking to customers and staff and reminding them to report anything which seems suspicious or does not feel right.
This special operation aims to create a network of vigilance to keep each other safe.
An Essex Police spokesman added: "It only takes a couple of minutes to report anything that doesn’t feel right when you are out and about. Simply tell staff, security or police or report to Counter Terrorism Policing. You won’t be wasting our time. In an emergency call 999."
Special Constables are volunteer police officers. They have the same police powers, uniform and equipment as regular police officers, but give up their free time to help keep people in our communities safe.
A spokesman for Essex Police's Special Constabulary said: "We’ve been back at Lakeside as part of a Project Servator deployment.
"We’ve been working with customers and staff to disrupt a range of criminal activity, including terrorism, by asking them to report anything which doesn’t feel right. You won’t be wasting our time."
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