POLICE security measures will be stepped up for Pride this weekend amid fears of terror attacks.

Sussex Police said while there was no direct threat of terrorist attack at this Saturday's event, following recent terrorist attacks at large-scale public gatherings, they would be implementing extra measures to improve safety.

Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp said contingency plans had been strengthened, with concrete barriers introduced in some parts of the parade route.

He said: "Most people are unlikely to notice any difference from previous years and none of the changes that we have made should affect the enjoyment of people involved in the Pride celebrations in any way.

He added: "As our communities would expect we take every opportunity to review our policing and security plans and following the suspicious package incident in 2015, together with more recent events overseas, we have been working with the Pride organisers and the city council to consider what lessons that we can learn and have reviewed our plans to keep Pride in Brighton and Hove as safe as possible.

"Sussex Police continues to support the Pride organisers with their delivery of a safe event in 2016."

Police officers will be drafted in from neighbouring forces but Sussex Police would not go into the details of their security plans.

Security was stepped up at London Pride just two weeks after 49 people died in the shooting at Orlando's Pulse nightclub.

ISIS propaganda on Twitter has encouraged further lone wolf attacks after the Orlando attack.

A man was arrested on his way to LA Pride with weapons.

Brighton Pride said its own security professionals would be able to follow the police lead in the result of any emergency.

A spokesman added: "Our security company and the police have regular meetings in the run up to Pride weekend.

"There is no current intelligence to suggest we are at risk and we are not expecting anything out of the ordinary.

"Our security levels remain the same based on the numbers of people in the park.

"But all our security staff are professionals and are trained in all the areas they need to be but we would always leave the police to lead on anything like that."

Last year's parade was delayed by more than an hour and a half after a "suspect package" was found near the start of the parade route on the seafront.

It was later revealed that the "device" which caused the route of the parade to be diverted and seafront cordoned off was a pin hole camera.

‘PRIDE EVENTS ARE THE POLAR OPPOSITE TO BELIEFS OF IS’

CAMPAIGNERS have said the Pride events represent everything IS hates – which is why it is more important than ever to come out in solidarity.

Terrorists target events like Pride not only because of large numbers of people congregating in public areas, but also because of the freedom of expression and equality that is to polar opposite to IS’s beliefs, campaigner, broadcaster and co-founder of Stonewall Simon Fanshawe said.

He told The Argus: “Ritualistic violence from IS is men trying to prove they are still in control and still able to punish and discipline people.

“IS use us as the litmus test of western society’s embracing of difference.

“They hate difference.They want people to follow a particular political philosophy.”

The city’s first openly gay MP, Peter Kyle, added: “Acts like Orlando, a rise in hate crime in our own country and hate-inspired terror make events like Pride more important than they have been for a generation, because they are the opportunity for individuals to take a stand and for us as a city to shout loudly that that’s not who we are.”