Police are arresting a record number of people for suspected terror offences in the UK as the security forces continue to increase efforts to combat the threat.

Armed special forces troops disguised as beggars and road sweepers have been deployed at key locations in London and other cities, they Daily Mirror reported.

Military sources told the newspaper the troops had been in place for “some time” to maintain covert surveillance and respond quickly to any future attacks.

“These soldiers provide a very good layer of immediate response at least to minimise casualties or stop injuries or deaths if they react quickly,” one said.

“The operation is police-led but the director of special forces is kept in touch with developments and is in touch with his men at all times.”

The Ministry of Defence said it would not comment on special forces operations, which have included bolstering police forces following the Manchester and London attacks.

London Bridge Terror Attack Show all 16 1 /16 London Bridge Terror Attack London Bridge Terror Attack Armed police on Borough High Street as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge PA London Bridge Terror Attack Armed Police talk to members of the public outside London Bridge Hospital as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge PA London Bridge Terror Attack Police Officers outside the Barrowboy and Banker Public House on Borough High Street as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge PA London Bridge Terror Attack Armed Police talk to members of the public outside London Bridge Hospital as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge PA London Bridge Terror Attack Armed police on Borough High Street as police deal with a 'major incident' at London Bridge PA London Bridge Terror Attack Emergency services near the scene of the incident Screengrab London Bridge Terror Attack People run down Borough High Street as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge Reuters London Bridge Terror Attack Emergency services arrive at the scene near Borough market at London Bridge Carl Court/Getty Images London Bridge Terror Attack Emergency personnel on London Bridge as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge PA London Bridge Terror Attack Police sniffer dogs on London Bridge as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge PA London Bridge Terror Attack A second helicopter lands on London Bridge as police are responding to three incidents in the capital, amid reports that a vehicle collided with pedestrians on London Bridge, Scotland Yard said. Officers are dealing with reports of stabbings in Borough Market, where armed officers attended and shots were fired. They are also at an incident in the Vauxhall area PA London Bridge Terror Attack Police attend to an incident on London Bridge in London REUTERS London Bridge Terror Attack Police attend to an incident on London Bridge in London, Britain Reuters London Bridge Terror Attack A police officer escorts members of the public to safety at London Bridge Getty Images London Bridge Terror Attack Police attend to an incident on London Bridge in London, Britain Reuters London Bridge Terror Attack Police attend to an incident near London Bridge in London, Britain Reuters

New figures released on Thursday by the Home Office showed terror-related arrests in the 2016/17 financial year increased by almost a fifth.

Of 304 arrests, 108 resulted in a charge including 91 specifically for terror offences and 100 people were released without charge.

Another 88 people were released on bail pending further investigation and the rest faced alternative action by police.

The figure was the highest number on record since data collection started in September 2001.

It includes 12 people arrested as part of the investigation into the Westminster attack in March – all of whom were released without charge.

Vigil held at Borough Market one week after terror attack

Khalid Masood’s car ramming and stabbing attack, which killed five victims, was followed by the Manchester bombing and London Bridge attack, while counter-terror agencies have foiled five alleged plots.

The Home Office figures showed “international terrorism” accounted for three-quarters of the terror-related arrests, while 16 per cent were logged in the domestic terrorism bracket.

The increase in arrests was driven by a sharp rise in the number of individuals from white ethnic groups held, up from 68 in 2015/16 to 113, and the number of British nationals arrested has passed 2,000 for the first time since current records began.

The report said 186 people remained in British custody for terror-related offences or domestic extremism at the end of March - an increase of 15 per cent compared with the previous year.

The scale of the threat facing the country has been laid bare with figures showing police and MI5 are involved in 500 investigations involving 3,000 individuals at any one time.

There are also 20,000 former “subjects of interest” whose risk must be kept under review, while experts have warned that the risk may be far greater than previously realised as the line between non-violent and violent extremism “blurs”.