A message to our communities following today's terror attack in Manchester

Assistant Chief Constable Donna Lawton, lead for local policing, said:

I’d like to reassure all our communities, and in particular our Jewish communities, that we’ve increased patrols across the county following today’s terror attack in Manchester.

While there is no known threat to any faith group in Gloucestershire we want to provide people with reassurance.

High visibility patrols are being conducted outside places of worship, including our synagogue, and people are encouraged to speak to officers should they have any concerns.

The fact today is Yom Kippur makes today’s attack even more horrifying and I’m sure many of our Jewish community specifically, will be feeling shocked, upset and vulnerable.

We know from past experiences that communities often come together following incidents such as this, but we also know it can lead to an increase in hate crime reports.

Hate has no place in our society, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting and safeguarding anyone who is targeted because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability.

The thoughts of everyone at Gloucestershire police are with the victims of today’s incident, as they are with their families and friends who will undoubtedly be suffering.

Officers will continue to engage with all our faith-based communities and leaders in the coming days and support wherever possible.

Should anyone be a victim of a hate crime or have any specific concerns about their safety I’d encourage them to speak to an officer on patrol, contact their local neighbourhood team or call 101.