Refreshed counter-terrorism strategy to strengthen response to ‘evolving threat’

Contest 2023, unveiled on Tuesday (July 18), sets out a bolstered approach to a domestic terrorist risk that is once again rising and becoming increasingly less predictable.

The updated strategy also addresses a persistent and evolving overseas threat from Islamist groups, and exploitation of technology by terrorists.

For more than 20 years, the Contest strategy has sought to reduce the threat of terrorism in the UK and to its interests overseas.

The Government says the updated strategy will continue to counter the threat at every stage across Prevent, Pursue, Protect and Prepare – from protecting against and mitigating the impact of terrorist attacks, to stopping people from becoming terrorists by curtailing radicalising influences.

Islamist terrorism is currently the largest terrorist threat faced by the UK in volume, making up around three quarters of MI5’s caseload. Extreme right-wing terrorism almost exclusively represents the remaining threat.

Across ideologies, the threat is dominated by individuals or small groups acting outside of organised terrorist groups, making it harder to detect and investigate.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “Any death or injury resulting from terrorism is a tragedy, and the impact on survivors, witnesses and wider society is immeasurable.

“The terrorism risk we face today is rising and becoming harder to detect. This is why the transformational changes and vital partnerships set out in Contest 2023 will modernise our approach and make us all safer.

“The safety and security of our people is the leading duty of government; terrorism will not prevail.”

She said the UK’s response includes “fully operationalising” the Counter Terrorism Operations Centre (CTOC), bringing together teams, data and technology to more efficiently and effectively identify, investigate and disrupt terrorists.

Ms Braverman added: “The last formal update of Contest was five years ago. Since then, we have seen nine declared attacks and 39 disrupted attacks. The terrorist threat is enduring.

“While Islamist terrorism remains the predominant threat, the key point today is that terrorist attacks are becoming increasingly unpredictable, making them harder to detect and investigate.

“Today unlike in previous years, terrorist movements are increasingly fragmented and disparate, and there are emerging threats from the extreme right and from abroad.

“Despite the prevalence of lower sophistication attacks in the UK, the threat today is more diverse, dynamic, and complex.”

Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Matt Jukes, said: “The CTOC is a clear marker of the continued collective commitment to tackle the enduring terrorist threat.

“Our mission to keep the public safe cannot be achieved by one organisation alone and we are pleased that Contest underlines the importance of collaboration.

“Together with our partners, counter-terrorism policing will always strive to enhance our response, keeping the safety of the public at the very heart of our efforts.”

Evidence suggests that while sustained counter-terrorism pressure from the UK and its allies has suppressed the most serious terrorist threats, Islamist terrorist groups based abroad are persistent and evolving.

While their capabilities remain far below earlier peaks, there are signs of resurgence by groups such as Daesh and al-Qaida, which continue to seek to plan and enable attacks in western countries, including the UK.

The Home Office says Contest 2023 sets out a clear vision for an “agile, integrated and aligned approach”, adding: “A collective and coordinated response will ensure we have all levers at our disposal against modern threats.”

This includes better connecting the counter-terrorism system with expertise in healthcare, education, social services and the criminal justice system, ensuring a broader range of interventions to divert people away from terrorism or mitigate the threat posed by a potential terrorist.

In addition, improvements will be made to the UK’s ability to detect and counter radicalising influences which spread extremist ideology, as recommended by the William Shawcross’ Independent Review of Prevent.

Other responses include:

• Tackling terrorist exploitation of the internet through engagement with technology companies and delivering the Online Safety Bill;
• Acting on the findings of the Manchester Arena Inquiry to close vulnerabilities in the response to terrorist attacks;
• Implementing Martyn’s Law to ensure better protection for people in public places; and
• Strengthing international counter-terrorism partnerships.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “Our approach to countering terrorist threats is having an impact. Alongside our allies, we have suppressed a great number of the most serious threats in the last five years.

“We continue to adapt our approach to tackling the evolving and enduring threats.

“The UK will continue to work in close collaboration with key allies to tackle these new threats and keep our people safe.”