News story

New counter-terrorism plans published

This strategy has been changed to take account of the terrorist threats the UK faces and the government’s security and counter-terrorism policies.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

You can read it in full on this website.

It focuses on:

  • continuing to reassess counter-terrorist powers to ensure they are both effective and proportionate
  • ensuring intelligence coverage of terrorists operating in the UK and overseas is maintained, and where necessary responding to technological changes which terrorist may use to their advantage
  • implementing the findings of the recent review of Prevent work, which will have a broader scope (including aspects of extremism) but narrower focus - addressing the ideological challenge, supporting vulnerable people and working more closely with key sectors
  • following two recent attempted attacks, aviation security will be strengthened through a new no-fly procedure, enhanced watch-listing arrangements and better cargo security
  • ensuring emergency services work seamlessly together and have the equipment that they need

The updated strategy is published ahead of the UK’s biggest peace-time security operation around the Olympic Games.

Over the past ten years, international counter-terrorist work has made significant progress.

Al Qai’da is now weaker than at any time since 09/11 and there are opportunities for the UK and other countries to make to make further progress.

The strategy makes clear that those opportunities must be seized in the coming months and years.

Evolving threat

But Al Qai’da continues to be a significant threat and other terrorist groups, some affiliated to Al Qai’da, have become stronger and the threat from Northern Ireland-related terrorism has also increased.

Home Secretary Theresa May announced the new strategy at a speech in central London today. Read the speech on this website.

She 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.

‘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.

‘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.’

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Transcript for New counter-terrorism plans published

Published 12 July 2011