The UK’s head of counter terrorism policing will join a debate on the reporting of terror attacks at this year’s Society of Editors Conference.

Mark Rowley, left, who leads the Counter Terrorism Policing Network, will join Manchester Evening News editor Rob Irvine and Sarah Whitehead, head of home news and deputy head of newsgathering at Sky News, for the discussion.

The event, which will be held in Cambridge, will look closely at reporting terror and question whether extensive media coverage of atrocities perpetuates terrorist propaganda.

Mr Rowley, a former Chief Constable of Surrey Police, oversaw the immediate police response to the Westminster, Manchester and London Bridge terror attacks early this year.

Ian Murray, deputy executive director of the SoE, said: “The debate on how the media reports terror and whether we are doing enough to ensure we do not do the terrorists’ work for them will be an important session at the conference so I’m delighted that delegates will be able to hear from the man heading up the UK’s anti-terrorism policing.

“It will be an opportunity for both sides of the debate to underscore best practice for countering acts of extreme violence while maintaining a free and vibrant media landscape.”

Other confirmed speakers for the conference, which will be held in November, include Keith Harrison, editor of Wolverhampton-based daily the Express & Star, Trinity Mirror Regionals editorial director Alan Edmunds and Toby Granville, Newsquest editorial development director.