The House of Commons Home Affairs Committee (HAC) sub-committee on counter-terrorism published the report of its inquiry “CONTEST: Government’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy “ on 7 July 2009.
What is “CONTEST: Government’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy “
“CONTEST: The United Kingdom’s Strategy for Countering Terrorism” is a counter-terrorism strategy developed by the UK government. It was first published in 2009 and has since been revised and updated several times. The strategy is designed to prevent terrorism by pursuing a range of measures across four main areas: Pursue, Prevent, Protect, and Prepare.
The “Pursue” aspect of the strategy focuses on detecting, investigating, and disrupting terrorist activity. This includes measures such as intelligence-gathering and law enforcement operations.
The “Prevent” aspect of the strategy aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. This includes programs and initiatives that aim to counter extremist ideology and promote alternative viewpoints.
The “Protect” aspect of the strategy focuses on strengthening the protection of the UK’s critical national infrastructure against terrorist attacks. This includes measures such as enhancing security at key sites and improving emergency response plans.
The “Prepare” aspect of the strategy focuses on preparing for and responding to terrorist attacks. This includes measures such as improving emergency response plans and training emergency responders.
Overall, the aim of CONTEST is to reduce the risk of terrorism to the UK and its citizens, both at home and abroad.
Difference between the four areas of CONTEST strategy and who are responsible for these areas
The CONTEST strategy is made up of a range of measures that are organized around four main areas: Pursue, Prevent, Protect, and Prepare. Each of these areas is designed to address a specific aspect of the threat posed by terrorism.
Pursue: This aspect of the strategy focuses on detecting, investigating, and disrupting terrorist activity. This includes measures such as intelligence-gathering and law enforcement operations. The UK’s security and intelligence agencies, such as MI5 and the police, are primarily responsible for pursuing the terrorist activity.
Prevent: The Prevent aspect of the strategy aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. This includes programs and initiatives that aim to counter extremist ideology and promote alternative viewpoints. The UK’s Home Office and other government departments, as well as local authorities and community groups, are responsible for implementing the Prevent aspect of the CONTEST strategy.
Protect: The Protect aspect of the strategy focuses on strengthening the protection of the UK’s critical national infrastructure against terrorist attacks. This includes measures such as enhancing security at key sites and improving emergency response plans. The UK’s Department for Transport, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, and other government departments are responsible for protecting critical national infrastructure.
Prepare: The Prepare aspect of the strategy focuses on preparing for and responding to terrorist attacks. This includes measures such as improving emergency response plans and training emergency responders. The UK’s emergency services, such as the police and ambulance service, are responsible for responding to terrorist attacks. The UK’s Department for Transport and the Home Office are responsible for coordinating the overall response to terrorist incidents.
Overall, the CONTEST strategy is a multi-faceted approach that involves the participation of various government departments and agencies, as well as local authorities and community groups. Its aim is to reduce the risk of terrorism to the UK and its citizens, both at home and abroad.
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