CUMBRIA’S chief constable says there is no end to the terror threat in sight – and that people should get used to armed officers on the county’s streets.

Jerry Graham also called for more money to be put into neighbourhood policing to stop people being radicalised before it got to the point they were “jumping from a van with a knife”.

He was speaking in a week when another terrorist attack took place in London outside a mosque in Finsbury Park.

One man, who had been taken ill before the attack began, died and nine others were taken to hospital, some critically injured.

Mr Graham’s comments follow the sight of armed officers at a number of high-profile events across south Cumbria in recent weeks, including Cartmel Races.

Police with guns have also recently been seen at Appleby Horse Fair and pop concerts at Brunton Park in Carlisle.

Mr Graham, speaking to The Mail as the terror threat remained at a severe level, said there would continue to be:

• Armed officers on the streets in Cumbria

• More events being policed

• More officers with dogs at gatherings and events

He said: “I don’t recall a time during my career when there was a continued period of tension like this.

“We are in unusual days and you wonder when it will return to normal.

“I don’t think we can assume that it will.”

Mr Graham – Cumbria’s most senior police officer – said the county had adopted the national policing approach.

“We are prepared and we have the ability to protect the public if required,” he said.

“There is no specific threat to the county but we can’t be complacent.

“Cumbria is a heavily populated place at this time of year and we host a significant number of events. We are conscious of that.

“Armed officers are there for reassurance and people have been thanking us at events for being there.”

Armed officers will be present throughout the summer in crowded places, like the Kendal Calling music festival next month.

The government has upped the number of firearms officers – particularly in London – but Mr Graham said more money also needs to go into neighbourhood policing.

He said: “It’s too late when someone is driving down a street and jumping from a van with a knife. We need more police and police community sup

port officers on the street.

“We need people to report things if they see or hear anything suspicious.

“If someone new moves into a flat next door and you suspect anything then let us know.

“We want to stop anything happening before they become radicalised.

“We want to have preventative measures in place and people to give us the heads-up before anything happens.”

Mr Graham said the county has a great partnership with other forces and that some of his officers had been to help following the terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena.

“In the event of an emergency we support each other,” he said.

“Officers from Lancashire and the north east helped us in the aftermath of the Derrick Bird shootings [in west Cumbria].”

The Cumbria branch of the Police Federation has concerns over police numbers and cash – and the impact this could have in the event of a terror strike.

Martin Plummer, chairman of the staff association which represents rank and file officers, said: “We all have to be aware.

“We have events in Cumbria where there will be many thousands of people.

“There are few places more crowded than the Lake District in the summer.

“So we have to make sure that we have our finger on the pulse.”

Mr Plummer added: “We need to have good firearms capability and counter-terrorism officers so we can combat the threat and the risk.

“Our number one priority is to protect the public.

“And for me, from a Federation perspective, I want to protect my officers.