The strategy has been changed to take account of the terrorist threats the UK faces and the Government’s ongoing security and counter-terrorism policies.
In short, the new plans focus on:
Significant progress across the past decade
The updated CONTEST strategy is published ahead of the UK’s biggest peace-time security operation around the 2012 Olympic Games.
Over the past ten years, international counter-terrorist work has made significant progress. Al-Qaeda is now weaker than at any time since 9/11, and there are opportunities for the UK and other countries to make further progress.
The strategy makes clear that those opportunities must be seized in the coming months and years.
That said, Al-Qaeda continues to be a significant threat and other terrorist groups, some affiliated to Al-Qaeda, have become stronger while the threat from Northern Ireland-related terrorism has also increased.
Home Secretary Theresa May announced the new strategy at a speech in central London this morning. May said: “We know we face a real and serious threat from terrorism and I have always been clear that protecting national security and the safety of the British people is the first priority of this Government.”
May continued: “The new counter-terrorism strategy is our response to the continuing and evolving threat that we face as a country. It is both comprehensive and wide-ranging, dealing with grand strategic issues and detailed technological points.”
In conclusion, the Home Secretary stated: “As we face this continuing threat, we have an unprecedented opportunity after the dramatic events of the last year. The updated counter-terrorism strategy will ensure that our ability to respond to changing threats is strengthened and people can continue to go about their lives freely and with confidence.”
Initial reaction from the security sector
A|D|S has commented on the publication of the Government’s CONTEST counter-terrorism strategy, the first version of the document to be produced by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.
Ian Godden, the chairman of A|D|S, said: “Counter-terrorism remains a crucial Government task, but it does not carry it out alone, increasingly requiring greater involvement from industry, and this element has become a higher priority for the UK Government in recent years.
“Research for the Government suggests that over 8,000 core companies make up this important sector, which is thought to employ almost 335,000 skilled people in the UK. For our part, A|D|S represents the suppliers of security solutions that deliver important aspects of counter-terrorism to keep the public safe.
“The industry has been supporting the Government’s counter-terrorism objectives. As CONTEST explains, the UK Security and Resilience Industry Suppliers’ Community (RISC) – of which which the members of A|D|S are a part – is the industry-led mechanism to achieve this. RISC is the main collective body with which the Government can liaise with industry around its counter-terrorism and wider security requirements.
“UK companies are world-leading innovators of cutting-edge security equipment, services and solutions which are deployed at home and around the world to help to keep the UK and its allies safe. They are key suppliers of airport security scanning technology, CBRN capabilities, security consultancy, fully-integrated security systems, manpower-related services and cyber security solutions to name but a few.
“Industry looks forward to working with the Home Secretary, the Minister for Crime and Security and their teams in the implementation of CONTEST on which the safety of the UK population rests.”
BSIA welcomes revised counter-terror strategy
The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has welcomed the Government’s publication of a revised version of CONTEST, which is now in its Third Edition.
Importantly, the threat from within the UK is acknowledged. Between January 2009 and December last year, over 600 people were arrested for terrorist-related activity in the UK (which is more than in any other European country). In addition to Islamic fundamentalism, the strategy also raises concerns around the resurgence of Northern Ireland related terrorism, with the country having seen a total of 40 terrorist attacks in 2010.
With the scope of terrorist activity consistently broadening, the private security industry continues to play an essential role in protecting the UK from attack.
James Kelly, the BSIA’s CEO, commented: “CONTEST is already a world class counter-terrorism strategy which has been developed and is currently being used as a model by other countries as a template for their own counter-terror strategies. The BSIA and its members understand the important role they have to play in making the revised CONTEST strategy become a reality, and will seek to work alongside the Government and public sector bodies to contribute to the counter-terror effort wherever possible.”
Read the new CONTEST documeny by accessing our dedicated web link
