Terror threat unlikely to change soon: cop

Australia's terrorism threat level is unlikely to change anytime soon, according to Victoria's top counter-terrorism cop.

The terrorism threat facing Australia is unlikely to subside anytime soon, according to Victoria Police's top counter-terrorism officer.

As the second day of an international counter-terrorism conference gets underway in Melbourne, Assistant Commissioner Ross Guenther said he did not believe the terrorism threat level would change in the short term.

"We're not likely to see the terrorism threat level come down any time soon. As you know we've had incidents more recently in Melbourne that have involved terrorist acts and us charging a number of individuals in committing or preparing to commit a terrorist act," he told the Nine Network.

"I don't think that's going to change anytime soon, not in my life time probably,"

Mr Guenther said working strongly with communities will become increasingly important in how authorities fight terrorism.

The use of technology, such as drones, to commit terrorist acts also remains a concern, he said.

"We know they've been used in the battlefield certainly and they remain a tactical option and they can be promoted as such. Law enforcement has to get over the top of that. We need to get in front of that. That's what we are about at the conference."

More than 500 experts and victims are attending the three-day forum in Melbourne to share knowledge, develop new strategies and build global partnerships to combat terrorism.

The UK's Metropolitan Police, the recently retired chief of police from Edmonton in Canada and one of the victims of the Lindt cafe siege are among the attendees.


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Source: AAP


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