Report online 
It only takes a moment to make a report online.
In an emergency, or if you need urgent police assistance, you should always dial 999.
You can also report suspicious activity by contacting the police in confidence on 0800 789 321.
Every year thousands of reports from the public help the police keep communities safe from terrorism.
What should I report?
Like other criminals, terrorists need to plan. They need to prepare, buy and store materials, and find ways to fund their activities. Much of this is done in view of the public.
For further information view our FAQs.
Report any of the below activity if you believe it to be suspicious or cause threat.
Research
- do you know someone who travels but is vague about where they are going?
- do you know someone with multiple passports in different names?
- do you know someone who looks at extremist material? Or shares or creates content that glorifies terrorism?
- have you noticed somebody promoting hateful ideas or extremist views?
Gathering materials
- have you noticed someone receiving deliveries for unusual items?
- if you work in commercial vehicle hire or sales, has a sale or rental seemed unusual?
- have you noticed someone buying large amounts of chemicals, fertilisers or gas cylinders for no reason?
- have you noticed someone acquiring illegal firearms or purchasing other weapons?
Storing materials
- have you noticed anyone storing large amounts of chemicals, fertilisers, or gas cylinders for no reason?
- have you noticed anyone storing firearms which could be used for an attack?
Hostile reconnaissance
- observation and surveillance help terrorists plan attacks. Have you noticed anyone observing CCTV, security arrangements, or taking photos of entrances and exits of specific buildings?
Financing
- cheque and credit card fraud are ways of generating cash. Have you noticed any unusual bank transactions or know someone who has suddenly come into a lot of money for no reason.
What happens when I contact the police?
When you make a report about suspicious activity or behaviour, our specially trained officers and police staff will take the details and pass these on for further checks. The information you provide will be kept secure and your identity will be protected. Don’t be concerned about wasting police time.
Find out more information on the Counter Terrorism Police website.
Concerned about a family member or loved one? ACT Early
Radicalisation is the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies. If you are worried someone close to you is becoming radicalised, act early and seek help. The sooner you reach out, the quicker we can protect the person you care about from being groomed and exploited by extremists.
Police forces across the country have specially trained officers who work alongside other organisations through a Home Office programme called Prevent to help people vulnerable to radicalisation move away from violent extremism. We are here to listen and offer help and advice. Receiving support is voluntary.
Friends and family are best placed to spot the signs, so trust your instincts and tell us your concerns in confidence.
We can help if you act early. You won’t be wasting our time and you won’t ruin lives, but you might save them.
To find out more about how to help someone close to you visit actearly.uk
What should I do if I find terrorist or violent extremist content online?
If you see online graphic or violent extremist material or content that supports, directs or glorifies terrorism please report it using our anonymous online reporting form.
Terrorists use the internet to provoke individuals to carry out attacks.
One post or video has the power to influence vulnerable people and inspire extremists and terrorists. This is why it is important to tackle online terrorism.
You can help us stop the online presence of terrorists and extremists by reporting content such as:
- speeches or essays calling for racial or religious violence
- videos of violence with messages in praise of terrorists
- postings inciting people to commit acts of terrorism or violent extremism
- messages intended to stir up hatred against any religious or ethnic group
- bomb-making instructions
- advice on how to obtain or make weapons
A specialist police team will examine the content and will work with internet companies to remove it if appropriate.
You can also download iReportIt, a pilot app designed to give people another way to anonymously report online content promoting violent extremism. Download it today so you’ve got it when you need it: Apple iOS | Android
Advice to stay safe
While the chances of being caught up in a terrorist incident remain rare, it is important to be prepared and know how to protect yourself if the need arises.
Counter Terrorism Policing has released guidance that sets out three key steps for keeping safe in the event of a firearms or weapons attack.
If you are caught up in an incident our advice is to RUN HIDE TELL – this guidance can be applied to many places and situations. We know from case studies and testimony of people who have survived attacks that this advice can save lives.
Find out more on the Counter Terrorism Policing website about how to stay safe and how both the public and industry can help report suspicious activity.
ACT Awareness e-Learning
The ACT Awareness e-Learning course is a counter terrorism awareness product designed for all UK based companies and organisations – and also the general public.
The course can be divided into short sections and is free to use. It takes just 45 minutes in total to complete – 45 minutes that could save lives.
The digital format is proving popular with shopping, entertainment and sports venues with more companies applying to take part every day.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor national police lead for Protective Security, explains:
“Working in Publicly Accessible Locations comes with risk. This course allows anybody, not just security professionals, to learn how best to protect themselves, the public and colleagues.
The training is available for everyone – for members of the public as well as those who work in Publicly Accessible Locations. Officers will still work closely with businesses but accessing this training will mean that awareness is improved, there are more ‘eyes and ears’ available to help us and ultimately will help everybody to save lives.”
If you’re a member of the general public or from a major organisation, you can sign up directly to the ACT Awareness e-Learning here.
