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Terrorism

This section deals with emergencies which arise from terrorism. The Home Office [External website] holds primary responsibility for counter-terrorism within the UK. The Security Service (MI5) website [External website] has detailed information on the current threats to national security and expert security advice for businesses, organisations and anyone with responsibility for the safety of others.

On this page:

• The Level of risk 
• Links:
  • Reports & legislation
  • Practitioner advice
    • from the Security Service (MI5)
    • Home Office security website
    • For Businesses
    • For Schools
    • Other links
  • Speeches and Campaigns
  • CBRN section

The Level of Risk

The most significant terrorist threat to the UK and to UK interests overseas comes from Al Qaida and associated networks. The threat to the UK remains real and serious.

The UK Government continues to maintain a state of heightened readiness in response to this threat. It remains the Government's policy to issue warnings or advice if this ever became necessary to protect public safety in the event of a specific and credible terrorist threat.

The UK Government's work on resilience aims to ensure that we can respond to, and recover from, the consequences of any terrorist attack. In many cases, these consequences will be the same as for hazards identified below.

Reports and Legislation

• Counter-terrorism strategy (CONTEST) [External website]

• The National Security Strategy report [PDF 980KB, 64 pages]

• Government Report - Addressing Lessons from the Emergency Response to the 7 July 2005 London Bombings - What we learned and what we are doing about it [External website]

• Report from the London Regional Resilience Forum - Looking Back, Moving Forward: The MultiAgency Debrief Lessons identified and progress since the terrorist events of 7 July 2005  [External PDF]

• Government response to Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) annual report 2006-2007 The ISC examines the policy, expenditure and administration of the security and intelligence agencies.
  • Government response [External PDF, 170KB, 8 pages]
  • Annual report [External PDF, 465KB, 51 pages]

• Report on the operation in 2005 of the Terrorism Act 2000-by Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C. [External website]

• Home Secretary's response to the review of the Operation in 2005 of the Terrorism Act 2000 [External website]

• London Assembly - Report of the 7 July Review Committee [External website]

• London Resilience Partnership Statement on the London Assembly Report  [External website]

• Government Response to the Intelligence and Security Committee Report into the London Terrorist Attacks on 7 July 2005  [PDF 238KB, 10 pages]

• Report of the Official Account of the Bombings in London on 7 July 2005  [External website][PDF 598KB]

• The Capabilities Programme - The core framework, with 20 key workstreams, to build resilience across the United Kingdom.

• Home Office - The Prevention of Terrorism Act  [External website] - The full text of the act and explanatory notes.

Practitioner Advice

• Current UK Threat Level [External website] Latest Threat Level in the UK from the Security Service

• Subscribe to National Threat Level email updates [External website]

• Intelligence Community  with information about the national intelligence machinery in the United Kingdom. Details on how the various intelligence and security agencies work together are available alongside career opportunities and links to individual websites.

• Threat Levels: The System to Assess the Threat from International Terrorism [PDF, 382KB, 8 pages]

Security Service (MI5)

• Protecting Against Terrorism [PDF, 42 pages, 879KB] This booklet has been produced by the Security Service for those who are responsible for the safety of others in businesses and in other organisations. It supersedes Bombs - Protecting People and Property, and contains protective security advice and information.

Home Office Security website

On the Home Office Security website:  [External website]

• Counter-terrorism strategy [External website]
• Responding to a terrorist incident [External website]
• Working with partners [External website]
• Surveillance  [External website]
• News & publications  [External website]

Businesses

Advice to businesses from the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) [External website]:

• Security Planning  [External website]
• Why security planning is important [External website]
• Risk assessment  [External website]
• Creating a security plan  [External website]
• Handling bomb threats [External website]
• Evacuation planning [External website]
• Business continuity planning [External website]

• More advice for businesses - please visit our Business Continuity pages for more advice and information.

Schools

• DfES - Guidance after the events of 11 September [External website]

• DfES TeacherNet - Health & Safety in Schools [External website]

Other links

• secureyourfertiliser.gov.uk [External website] - website from the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) providing specialist advice regarding the security of explosives and pre-cursor chemicals (including fertilisers), pathogens and toxins, radiological sources and other toxic chemicals.

• 7th July Assistance [External website] for those affected by the London Bombings, 7 July 2005, with information, sources of emotional help and practical advice. There is a 24-hour phone line on 0845 054 7444 and an assistance centre for face-to-face talks.

• NHS leaflet: Coping with the Stress of a Major Incident [PDF, 2 pages, 74KB]

• Disaster Action [External website] - offer support and information for the bereaved and survivors of major disasters and other events.

• UK Trauma Group [External website]

• WHO - Terrorist Threats to Food: Guidance for Establishing and Strengthening Prevention and Response Systems [External website]

Speeches and Campaigns

• Met Police Counter-Terrorism Campaign - Anti-terrorist hotline: 0800 789 321[External website]

• The Tools to Counter Terrorism - Home Office Minister Hazel Blears' speech to the Royal United Services Institute. [External website]

• Broadening the Business Security Agenda - Speech by the Director General of the Security Service, Eliza Manningham-Buller, at the CBI Conference, 8 November 2004. [External website]

• Security Advice from the Metropolitan Police [External website]

CBRN

• See our CBRN section for more details

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