London (CNN) The divisive atmosphere surrounding Brexit could be exploited by right-wing groups, the UK's most senior counter-terrorism police chief has warned.

Neil Basu, the head of the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism operations, said his biggest concern about Brexit was its "potential to divide communities and set communities against each other."

Amid this "febrile" atmosphere there was the possibility of a "far-right drift into extreme right-wing terrorism," added Basu, speaking at the launch of a campaign on raising awareness of suspicious activity, the BBC reported.

Basu told reporters that after the 2016 referendum there was a rise in "hate crime," "far-right rhetoric" and "growth of (far-right) organizations like National Action."

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He added that police were "concentrating very heavily" to ensure this "creeping" threat didn't get a "foothold" in the country.

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