COUNTER-TERRORISM police descended on a pub in a Herefordshire town this week.

The long-closed Riverside Inn in Ross-on-Wye remains the subject of a search by anti-terror specialists, who confirmed to the Hereford Times yesterday (November 19) that a 43-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of terror offences.

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The operation is being carried out by Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE), which has, since 2009, been responsible for co-ordinating the regional counter terrorist response and providing specialist support to police forces in Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, Sussex and the Thames Valley.

In line with the Home Office counter terrorism strategy, CONTEST, the Unit helps ensure police are better equipped to prevent and respond to terrorist incidents and investigate and prosecute those involved.

CTPSE’s teams of detectives, forensics and high tech specialists support the region’s forces with CT investigations and can be also called upon to provide support to forces in the South West and across the country.

Thames Valley Police is responsible for CTPSE under the ‘Lead Force Model’, falling under the direction and control of Chief Constable John Campbell.

Detective Chief Superintendent Kath Barnes is the Head of the Unit, which is overseen by Assistant Chief Constable Pete O’Doherty.

Specialist officers from the unit are searching three other properties in Gloucestershire, in addition to the Wye Street pub, and said that while they may at times be wearing protective suits, there is no wider threat to the public.