In a joint statement, Assistant Chief Constable Judith Gillespie, who is responsible for the Service's Rural Region, and Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland, Urban Region, have urged people to be vigilant generally, report their suspicions to the police and support officers in their investigations.

The statement continues: "Northern Ireland is moving forward. Progress is steady. People are optimistic for the future. Yet there are some very small groups of people who seem to be firmly anchored in the past. They have little or no support. But they don't seem to have woken up to that fact yet.

"It appears that in order to serve their misguided ends they try to raise tensions particularly ahead of set times in the Northern Ireland calendar like the Twelfth of July. One of the ways they are doing this is to attack buildings which are of importance and significance to their neighbours.

"The risk is that these attacks are sometimes seen by others as an invitation for retaliation. No-one in the overwhelming law abiding community wants to see that.

"We have had a series of attacks on Orange Halls. But we have also seen attacks on buildings which are culturally important to the Catholic community.

"We have stepped up police efforts generally across the country. Operational officers in the eight Districts are being tasked to be aware of potential attacks and damage. The very isolated rural nature of some of these buildings is a problem in itself.

"We will play our part but others have a part to play too.

"This is a time for everyone to show civic responsibility, to support their neighbours and to demonstrate to those few who would seek to disrupt the lives of the many that they will not succeed.

"Those who own premises which they think might be vulnerable need to be talking to the police and to take measures to protect their property. Anyone who has information about who is behind any attack should come to us.

"We need evidence which can bring those responsible to court and secure a conviction."