Areas of Risk

The threat to the United Kingdom from international terrorism is seamless. 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 attacks in London in July 2005 serve as a stark reminder of the challenges that we all face.

To counter this threat, the UK’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.