Surrey’s champion for equality and diversity has condemned the perpetrators of yesterday’s killings in Paris as "barbaric murderers" and warned that communities must be "even more vigilant" in recognising and reporting concerns about such individuals.

Shiraz Mirza, a Liberal Democrat councillor in Kingston, has been Surrey Police’s assistant commissioner for equality and diversity since May 2013.

The 62-year-old Muslim said he was deeply upset by the murder of journalists and police officers at the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdon in Paris and urged Surrey’s police to unite against people with the mindset of the perpetrators.

"Islam does not allow the killing of another person. These people are not representative of Islam.

"They are a mindset gone astray. They have no faith or love," he said.

"I condemn wholeheartedly this barbaric murder on behalf on my family, my staff, and Surrey.

"I urge every member of the community in Surrey to be united and be vigilant.  It’s about what we can do together to clear this mindset.

"We need to report every one of them who are up to no good. There is no place in our society for these barbaric murderers committing these acts of terrorism.

"We need to be even more vigilant because this mindset is living among us."

Coun Mirza, who lives in Chessington, became a councillor in 1998, serving as Kingston's first Asian mayor in 2000 and again in 2007.

As mayor, he established the Shiraz Mirza Community Hall Trust which led to the opening of two "multicultural community hubs" in New Malden and Norbiton, which aim to encourage social cohesion, and which are owned by the community itself.

If anyone would like to speak to Coun Mirza about any concerns they have can call him on 07881039357 or email Mirza15202@surrey.pnn.police.uk.