Tayside Police today (28/01/09) became the first Force in Scotland to introduce a ground breaking multi-media initiative designed to develop the capacity for Tayside communities to engage in issues around terrorism.

The event, ACT NOW, thrusts participants into the role of becoming counter terrorism investigators who are required to work through a fictitious terrorist incident. During the course of the investigation the participants receive intelligence upon which they will make crucial decisions that affect the lives of citizens of their communities. In addition to this the investigators are also required to deal with the media, and to speak with communities, looking in particular at reassurance and involvement of key individuals.

Around 30 members of communities across Dundee attended the event at the Hilton Hotel. Chief Superintendent Colin McCashey, in charge of policing in Dundee, said,

‘‘ACT NOW is designed to achieve interaction between people from different communities, cultures and faiths, and puts under the spotlight the procedures and thought processes involved in arriving at decisions. The exercise takes place in a safe and confidential environment in which the extremely sensitive issues around terrorism can be discussed.

‘‘The project is designed to be taken out into the heart of our communities, to develop dialogue using community facilitators in local settings. This will enable people of different ages, faiths and heritage to take part. ACT NOW will also be translated into diverse languages to allow those where English is a second language to participate.

‘‘The ACT NOW initiative is just one part of a great deal of work being carried out in Tayside around counter terrorism. This work is aimed at raising awareness of the issues associated with it, promoting the needs for vigilance and involving a range of partners and community members.

‘‘There are four strands of the counter terrorism work nationally – prevent, pursue, protect and prepare. In Tayside the ‘prevent’ leg takes priority and includes a wide range of projects across the Force area.

‘’I would like to stress that there is no current intelligence to suggest that Dundee, or any other area of Tayside, is a terrorist threat. However, the prevention of terrorism is always preferable to the pursuit of terrorists and that is why events such as this are crucial for members of the public to gain an understanding of how police officers operate and also for us to learn what concerns community members might have.

‘’Police counter terrorist tactics will only command public confidence if they are, and are seen to be, appropriate, proportionate and fair. Community policing, and in particular neighbourhood management has a critical role to play in countering terrorism and reassuring the public.

‘‘I am delighted that Tayside Police, and in particular officers in Dundee, are the first in Scotland to both take part in and deliver this fantastic initiative.’’