RESPONSES TO TERRORISM

learning objectives • describe the counter-terrorism policy

in the uk • explain how the international community has

responded to terrorism

THE UK’S RESPONSE TO TERRORISM

airport security

in 2010 full body scanners were introduced at Heathrow and manchester airports following an attempted terrorist attack on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit.

airport security

at the same time the government has introduced targeted passenger profiling. this method is used to predict whether a person is likely to commit a terrorist attack.

airport security

under the Terrorism Act 2000 police officers have the power to stop and search members of the public without any reasonable suspicion.

airport security

the government operates ‘no fly’ list in the uk. this special security measure includes enhanced screening prior to boarding flights bound for the UK.

airport security

Explosive trace detection equipment can detect small particles of explosives. the rationale for introducing this measure was to prevent potential bombers from carrying explosive components onto aircrafts.

airport security

in 2006 the european union has introduced no-liquids policy. Liquids are limited to 100ml per container and no more containers than would fit in a one-litre plastic bag.

airport security

following paris attacks David cameron made provisions for 1,900 extra security and intelligence staff and doubling funds for aviation security.

airport security

The government can ban flights to other countries. last year it temporarily banned all UK flights in and out of Sharm el-Sheikh airport in Egypt in the wake of the bombing of a Russian passenger plane.

counter-terrorism in the UK

CONTEST is the name of the United Kingdom's counter-terrorism strategy, which was introduced in 2006. CONTEST is split into four work streams: Prevent, Pursue, Protect, and Prepare.

counter-terrorism in the UK

The purpose of Pursue is to stop terrorist attacks in the uk by detecting and investigating terrorist threats. as well as to cancel or refuse British passports to individuals who seek to travel to engage in terrorism-related activity.

counter-terrorism in the UK

the aim of prevent is to respond to the ideology of extremism and terrorism and the threats we face from those who promote it. as well as to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.

counter-terrorism in the UK

protect aims to strengthen our border security to deter and disrupt terrorist activity and to protect the public from terrorist attacks.

counter-terrorism in the UK

PREPARE objectives are to respond to and recover from a wide range of terrorist and other civil emergencies. it’s aim is also to improve the ability of the emergency services to work together during a terrorist attack.

COUNTER-TERRORISM AND SECURITY ACT 2015 new legislation was introduced in 2015 to ensure that the police, and security and intelligence agencies, have the appropriate legal powers and to tackle terrorist threats, including the ability to stop people travelling to fight in the region.

COUNTER-TERRORISM AND SECURITY ACT 2015 Temporary Passport Seizure provides the police with a new power to seize temporarily the passports and other travel documents of outbound individuals suspected of intending to travel to engage in terrorist-related activity.

COUNTER-TERRORISM AND SECURITY ACT 2015 Temporary Exclusion Order allows to temporarily disrupt the return of a British citizen suspected of involvement in terrorist activity abroad, ensuring that their return is managed by the police.

COUNTER-TERRORISM AND SECURITY ACT 2015 Internet Protocol Resolution brings improvement to law enforcement agencies’ ability to identify which individual is responsible for sending a communication on the internet.

COUNTER-TERRORISM AND SECURITY ACT 2015 Changes have been made to border Security by enhancing aviation, shipping and international rail security, with provisions relating to passenger data, ‘no fly’ scheme and security and screening measures.

COUNTER-TERRORISM AND SECURITY ACT 2015 Changes have been introduced to government’s prevent strategy by creating a duty on a range of Government organisations working with the public, including the police, local authorities, prisons, schools and universities, to prevent people being drawn into terrorism.

COUNTER-TERRORISM AND SECURITY ACT 2015 introduced channel programme, a voluntary programme for people at risk of radicalisation and ensuring that it is delivered consistently nationwide.

mi5

joint terrorism analysis centre was established at mi5, the british security service, in 2003. this department works to gather and access all information related to terrorism at home and overseas.

mi5

is also responsible for setting the uk terrorist threat level. there are five levels of threat: critical, severe, substantial, moderate and low. currently the threat level in the uk is severe meaning an attack is highly likely.

detention of suspected terrorists

Anyone arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 is subject to a special regime for pre-charge detention. The maximum period of detention was originally set at seven days in 2000. However, this was amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 to 14 days.

detention of suspected terrorists

Following the 7 July 2005 bombings in London the government announced proposals to extend this to 90 days. These were defeated in the House of Commons in late 2005, but an alternative measure was passed under the Terrorism Act 2006 to extend it to 28 days.

detention of suspected terrorists

The government argues that terrorism cases require longer periods of detention because of the complexity of investigating terrorism cases, the difficulty in obtaining admissible evidence, and the importance of protecting the public from terrorist attacks.

deportation of suspected terrorists

Under the Immigration Act 1971 the government has power to deport any foreign national who is deemed to be a threat to the national security of the UK.

deportation of suspected terrorists

the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 has also greatly expanded the power of the government to strip dual nationals of their UK citizenship, which would leave them open to being deported.

deportation of suspected terrorists

The government maintains that deportation is an effective way of disrupting the activities of suspected terrorists in the UK. However, Concerns have been raised about deporting suspects to countries in which they may face death penalty and torture.

the role of the police

the role of police has changed with the threat of terrorism. in 2015 Scotland Yard has created an SAS-style unit of armed officers to counter the threat of a terrorist gun attack in Britain.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

the war on terror

the war on terror was launched in 2001 in the aftermath of 9/11 and in response to the increasing threat of terrorism. it was started by the USA with the support of Britain and other countries.

the war on terror

the war on terror involved an international military campaign to eliminate al-qaeda and other terrorist organisations, beginning with the invasion of Afghanistan in search of osama bin laden.

the war on terror

The number of Nato forces peaked at about 140,000 in 2011, but decreased in subsequent years as Nato countries wound down combat operations, handing over control to local security forces.

the war on terror

Nato ended its combat mission in Afghanistan in December 2014, leaving a 13,000-strong residual force used for training and counter-terrorism operations, including 9,800 US troops.

Guantanamo bay

guantanamo bay is a detention camp run by the united states in cuba. it was opened in 2002 by gorge w. bush to hold detainees suspected of terrorist-related activity or crimes.

Guantanamo bay

the prison is highly controversial as it detains suspects without trail and has been accused of torturing detainees.

Guantanamo bay

775 detainees have been brought to Guantanamo. Although most of these have been released without charge. As of february 2016, 91 detainees remain at Guantanamo.

FRANCE

response to paris attacks

following paris attacks president François Hollande declared France at ‘war against terrorism, against jihadism, against radical Islamism’.

response to paris attacks

The french government declared a state of emergency within hours of the first shots by gunmen on 13 November 2015. the state of emergency was recently extended until 26 may 2016.

response to paris attacks

The state of emergency allows police to conduct house raids and searches without a warrant or judicial oversight, including at night, and gives extra powers to officials to place people under house arrest outside the normal judicial process.

response to paris attacks

Of the thousands of raids carried out, four judicial proceedings linked to terrorism have been opened, and one person had been charged in connection to terrorism. this has led to criticism from human rights organisation, including the UN.

response to paris attacks

following paris attacks France launched series of airstrikes on isis strongholds in Syria. it also called for world leaders for tighter co-operation in the wake of the attacks At a G20 summit in Turkey in November 2015.

THE UNITED NATIONS

the united nations

as well as countries individually fighting terrorism, there are a number of international organisations that try to help prevent and stop terrorist attacks.

the united nations

almost every country in the world is a member of the Un. in joining the un, countries sign up to a collective aim of working together to maintain peace and security throughout the world.

the united nations

through the un the international community has agreed on a global strategy to combat terrorism. This is the first time that all Member States have agreed to a common strategic approach to fight terrorism.

NATO

NATO

like the un, nato was created after the second world war with the aim of avoiding any future wars. it is made up of 28 countries that have a military and political alliance with each other.

NATO

the idea is that countries that are part of nato will defend each other against attacks and work together to increase security and peace.

NATO

since 9/11 nato has a new role in fighting terrorism around the world. Alongside us-led military campaign in afganistan, nato has been leading the international security assistance force (ISAF).

NATO

the isaf represents nato’s determination to help the people of Afghanistan build a stable, secure and democratic state free from the threat of terrorism.

THE EUROPEAN UNION

the european union

the european union works to reduce the threat of terrorism in EU countries. Cooperation between states is key, as is the sharing of terrorist related intelligence.

the european union

when a terrorist attack happens in an eu country, other member nations work to assist with the response. an eu database lists the resources and assists that nations could mobilise in the case of a terrorist attack.

the european union

europol (the european law-enforcement agency) works to make europe safer by assisting the member nations in the fight against serious crime and terrorism.