Copyright © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press.
Case Study |
Community Cohesion in High Wycombe: a Case Study of Operation Overt
* Chief Constable, Thames Valley Police, Oxford.
** Executive Research Offices, Chief Constable's Office, Thames Valley Police, Oxford. E-mail: Lucy.Mason@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
In this article, Chief Constable Sara Thornton and Dr. Lucy Mason of Thames Valley Police explain how the alleged terrorist plot to blow up planes between Heathrow Airport and the US in August 2006 has focussed police efforts on strengthening community relations in the High Wycombe.
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
| Introduction |
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The night of Wednesday 9th August 2006 represented a watershed for the diverse communities of the High Wycombe area, in Buckinghamshire. As the police undertook a series of raids and arrests around London, Birmingham, and High Wycombe, the news of an intended terrorist plot by Islamic extremists to blow up airplanes in flight from the UK to the US broke in the world's media. Strict security measures were put in place at several UK airports, including a ban on carrying liquid onto airplanes, and the travel plans of thousands of people were disrupted as flights were cancelled or delayed. The arrests were the result of months of investigation by the security services and the police, known as Operation Overt.
A planned, or actual, terrorist attack has an enormous impact upon the whole community wherever the suspects live. The police investigation and being under the media spotlight could easily have the
| 9th August 2006 |
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| The fallout |
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| The way forward |
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