The threat the United Kingdom faces from international terrorism
is a seamless one. It is no longer easily divided into foreign
affairs, defence or domestic affairs. It is one where the
capabilities of those who seek to attack the United Kingdom and its
communities are significant and potentially increasing.
Attacks around the world have shown that terrorists will attack
those targets they perceive as being attractive. Amongst the likely
targets for international terrorists are locations with
comparatively limited protective security measures which afford the
potential for terrorists to cause mass casualties. The bomb attacks
on the London underground and bus in July 2005 serve as a stark
reminder of the challenges that we face.
To counter this threat, the United Kingdom’s response must also
be seamless. We must work together collectively and for the common
good.
To achieve this, the Government has divided the CONTEST
strategy into four principal strands: Prevent, Pursue, Protect and
Prepare and set up programmes and plans to give these effect. The
work of NaCTSO is
primarily concerned with the Protect and Prepare strands of this
strategy.
The Protect strand is concerned with reducing the vulnerability
of the UK and UK interests overseas to a terrorist attack. This
covers a range of issues including:
- crowded places; protecting people going about their daily
lives.
The crowded places work focusses on enhancing the protective
security advice available to those who own or operate venues or
places that may be more vulnerable to attack. The whole community
has a part to play in devising and implementing measures that are
dynamic, flexible, agile and adaptive. In drawing up advice, we
will always seek the input of those who know most about their areas
of responsibility.
In
support of the crowded places work, NaCTSO has
recently developed and published guides which are available to
download from their website for: