FROM LOGISTICS TO ‘KLEANING

UK Counter Terrorism Policing Working to keep people safe from terrorism

Counter Terrorism Policing is a collaboration of UK police forces working with the UK intelligence community to help protect the public and our national security by preventing, deterring and investigating terrorist activity.

Police have a long history of working to prevent vulnerable people being drawn into criminal behaviour. The government-led, multiagency Prevent programme aims to stop individuals becoming terrorists and police play a key role.

We work with local authority partners and community organisations to help find solutions and work to support and protect vulnerable people.

Following assessment, many referrals to Prevent do not result in any further police action. In some cases, other organisations such as health, housing or education step in to provide support.

By developing close relationships with the public and commercial organisations we work to protect our communities and infrastructure. Teams of Counter Terrorism Awareness and Security Officers work alongside colleagues from other emergency services, local authorities and businesses to help strengthen security and keep the public safe.

This work is particularly important in crowded places such as shopping centres, sports and entertainment venues.

We regularly run awareness campaigns to ensure staff employed in these areas are informed about the threat and vigilant to suspicious behaviour.

You may see police officers deployed in strength throughout a specific area. This is national policing tactic known as Project Servator which aims to disrupt and deter crime – while offering reassurance to the public. These deployments can happen at any time of the day and in any location across the UK.

Counter Terrorism Policing also has officers based overseas to help protect the UK’s interests and citizens travelling or working abroad. This might include border security measures or liaising with local law enforcement to share vital intelligence.

Across our UK network we have specialist officers and staff dedicated to stopping those who seek to do us harm.

We work closely with MI5 and others to develop intelligence, and with the Crown Prosecution Service to put compelling evidence before the courts.

Whether investigating a highly sophisticated international plot, or a lone individual preparing an attack, our teams of professionals are ready to deploy a wide range of skills. This includes utilising expertise in surveillance, forensics, digital and financial investigations.

At any one time we can be handling hundreds of live investigations while reviewing thousands more individuals of interest.

Around the UK there are eleven regional counter terrorism units (CTUs) and intelligence units (CTIUs). These units collaborate daily to confront the threat from terrorism. They have officers and staff working in a range of specialist fields such as investigations, forensics, digital exploitation, financial inquiries, community liaison and communications.

At the centre of the network sits the Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters (CTPHQ), which devises policy and strategy, coordinates national projects and programmes, and provides a single national Counter Terrorism Policing voice for key stakeholders including government, intelligence agencies and other partners.

Alongside the headquarters is the National Operations Centre, a central command made up of units that provide operational support to the national network.