Published Thursday, 07 October 2010
More police checkpoints and patrols are expected across Northern Ireland over the next number of days.
PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie confirmed the move at a monthly meeting of the NI Policing Board in Belfast.
"Over the coming days you will see an increase in police activity across Northern Ireland as we continue our efforts to prevent serious harm and keep our communities safe," Mrs Gillespie told board members on Thursday.
Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay said the public should expect disruption as a result of the operations.
He appealed for patience and tolerance from the community.
"From time to time we will take action when we feel we have to put in place security measures in order to keep the community safe", he told UTV.
"They will see an enhance police presence at various times of the day as we move resources around and seek to suppress those who want to harm.
"We will seek to make it difficult for them".
Ass Constable Finley also appealed for vigilance. He asked people to report "anything that's unusual, anything that's out of place, anything that appears different".
Sinn Féin Policing Board member Alex Maskey says the PNSI must tackle the dissident threat in a "proportionate way" to avoid undermining confidence in nationalist areas.
"We must keep the threat in perspective", he told UTV.
"They must carry out their duty in a way that does not alienate the public but in fact wins the public support for the work of the police".
Last month, Home Secretary Theresa May revealed the threat level to Great Britain from Irish-related terrorism was raised from moderate to substantial, meaning an attack is a "strong possibility".
Addressing the Conservative Party conference on Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to use "every means at his disposal" to protect people against dissident violence.
But, with the PSNI facing budget cuts, unionist board members believe any additional funds needed to police the threat should come out of the national security coffers.
"Clearly the threat that exists in Northern Ireland, if it spills over to mainland UK, it is an issue of national security and I think the PSNI should be able to tap in the national security budget at the Home Office", DUP board member Jimmy Spratt told UTV.
Two officers were injured when the car bomb detonated near the Da Vinci hotel and the Ulster bank in Derry after midnight on Tuesday morning.
Substantial damage was caused and traffic was severely disrupted for two days.
Detectives are still trying to establish if the bomb was left there deliberately or abandoned en route to a police station.
Dissidents have launched 36 attacks so far this year and have detonated five car bombs.