Chances are if you are working in a Government institutions, providing security services, working in a public place or a part of the national supply infrastructure then the CONTEST strategy will have some relevance, some aspects such as the Prevent theme below also have a significant role in local Government and within the communities themselves. Since 2003 the UK Government has had a long term strategy for countering international terrorism, known as CONTEST and a revised strategy was launched in March 2009. The aim of CONTEST is to reduce the risk to the UK and its interests overseas from international terrorism, so that people can go about their lives freely and with confidence.
The new CONTEST strategy remains centred on four key areas – Pursue, Prevent, Protect and Prepare.
- Pursue will make use of new resources and new legislation available to the intelligence agencies and police to investigate and disrupt terrorist networks here and overseas, and to prosecute those responsible.
- Prevent will reach more people than ever before, as we step up our efforts to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting violent extremism. This reflects our better understanding of the causes of radicalisation and includes new programmes and new partnerships with communities here and overseas.
- Protect aims to strengthen our defences against an attack – through a strong border, improved resilience in our Critical National Infrastructure, and greater protection for the crowded places where we all live, work, shop and play.
- Prepare will limit the impact of any attacks that do occur – with tens of thousands of emergency services workers, security guards, store managers and others trained and equipped to deal with an incident. Every region of the country now has plans to deal with an attack, and to improve our ability to recover and ensure a return to normal as soon as possible.
If you would like to find out more about CONTEST visit:
http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/counter-terrorism-strategy/about-the-strategy1/
