Communities at the heart of our response

The events that unfolded near RAF Fairford in the early hours of Sunday morning have understandably caused fear and concern for local residents, particularly those living in the Whelford area who had been asked to leave their homes as a precaution.

First and foremost, I want to thank those residents for their patience and cooperation. Being asked to evacuate your home at short notice is extremely disruptive, and I know many families will have experienced a real sense of uncertainty as the situation developed.

Throughout this incident, the safety of the public has been the absolute priority. In policing, to keep people safe from harm, you often have to assume the worst-case scenario in order to effectively safeguard people. You would rather in any policing matter that officials are over cautious than not cautious enough.

Gloucestershire Constabulary officers responded quickly and, following an operation involving armed police, five men were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. Counter Terrorism Policing then took the lead on the investigation, and all five men were subsequently bailed.

This incident demonstrates the importance of remaining vigilant and reporting anything that does not seem right. The public are often the eyes and ears of our communities, and information shared with the police can play a vital role in helping to keep people safe. We would always encourage people to trust their instincts and report concerns.

I have been reassured by the professionalism shown by everyone involved in responding to this incident. From the first officers on scene, to specialist teams, emergency service partners, local authorities and military colleagues, agencies have worked closely together to ensure a coordinated and effective response.

I have stood back from the huge media attention around this incident, as I did not want to dilute the messages coming from official channels like Counter Terrorism and the Constabulary. I am also very mindful that this is still an ongoing investigation and that the speculation in the media could potentially interfere with the integrity of the case.

I would like to thank everyone involved for their calm and professional response, and once again express my gratitude to the local community. Work is continuing at pace to establish the full circumstances. I would urge people to avoid being drawn into speculation. Major incidents are, thankfully, rare, but they are scenarios for which our emergency services train and prepare extensively. The response we have seen is the result of well-rehearsed plans being put into action, with partners working together to assess risk, protect the public and manage the situation safely.