Preventing Terrorism and Involvement in Extremism

CONTEST

CONTEST is the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy. It has four areas of work:

  • Pursue: to stop terrorist attacks
  • Prevent: to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism
  • Protect: to strengthen our protection against a terrorist attack
  • Prepare: to mitigate the impact of a terrorist attack.

More information about the CONTEST Strategy.

Prevent

The threat we face from terrorism is real, and the Prevent strategy recognises that we cannot arrest our way out of the problem.  The Prevent Strategy therefore aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

The focus of Prevent is on the significant threat posed by international terrorism and those in the UK who are inspired by it.  But it is also concerned with reducing  threats, risks and vulnerabilities posed by domestic extremists such as those from the far right and far left, extreme animal rights activists and those involved in Northern Irish related terrorism.

Prevent is supported by three objectives:

  • Ideology - responding to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it
  • Individuals - preventing people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support and
  • Institutions - working with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation which we need to address

Prevent is not a Police programme.  It requires the involvement of local authorities and a wide range of other organisations.

PREVENT - Home Office WRAP Training (Opens in a new window or downloads a file)

Preventing Terrorism Signpost

Protective Security Signposting, Tools and Contact information

The purpose of this Section is to signpost various options available to CONTEST partners with respect to improving protective security at a specific site.

(This list is not exhaustive and for bespoke information, partners are recommended to contact their Police Scotland Counter Terrorism Security Adviser).

  1. Referral to CPNI, NaCTSO and MI5 web sites for advice surrounding the current threat level, response levels, physical, procedural, personnel and cyber related protective security counter measures and business continuity advice.
  2. Referral to CPNI web site on Communicating Personnel Security Messages (short films and other products). CPNI has made six short animated films to promote interest in personnel security. They can be placed on an organisations Intranet or accessed through the following link: Personnel Security
  3. Delivery/Referral to sector specific NaCTSO/CPNI protective security publications. Accessed through the attached link: NaCTSO Protective Security Publications
  4. Delivery of CT Threat Awareness / Hostile Reconnaissance Briefings / Eyes Wide Open DVD etc. This can be delivered by CTSA’s. CONTEST Partners can contact CTSA’s for information relating to specific products.
  5. Delivery of Mail Handling Training - IED/CBRN procedures. This can be delivered by CTSA’s. CONTEST Partners may also wish to contact CTSA’s for further information.
  6. Delivery of Stay Safe Advice (Firearms / Weapons Attacks). CTSA’s can deliver this to CONTEST Partners or this can be accessed through the attached link: Stay Safe
  7. Delivery of Project Griffin. CTSA’s deliver the various modules of Project Griffin, however for larger organisations or Trusted Partners there is the option to self-deliver, details of which can be accessed via the attached link: Project Griffin - Industry Self Delivery
  8. Delivery of Project ARGUS provided and facilitated by Police Scotland CTSA’s. Project ARGUS is a NaCTSO initiative, exploring ways to aid you in preventing, handling and recovering from a terrorist attack. It achieves this by taking you through a simulated attack and provides you with a unique opportunity to both learn from and contribute to valuable lessons helping to protect you, your business and your community, whether you are part of a national chain or a small business. Project ARGUS has a number of industry specific scenarios and each input can be tailored to suit a Partner’s needs.
  9. Refer to CPNI ‘Passport to Good Security’. CPNI has produced the ‘Passport to Good Security for Senior Executives’. It sets out strategic headlines for best practice and provides relevant prompts for the actions you need to take as part of your strategy. It will help you to identify, assess and mitigate the threats to your organisation. It can be accessed through the attached link: Passport To Good Security
  10. Delivery of table top CT exercises. CTSA’s can assist and advise CONTEST Partners further regarding the development of such exercises.
  11. Delivery / referral to CPNI Operational Requirements Advice. The Operational Requirements process helps organisations make smarter investments in security measures, enabling them to implement measures, which are in proportion to the risks they face. Further information regarding Operational Requirements can be found through the attached link: CPNI - Operational Requirements
  12. Delivery of Bomb Threat and Search Awareness Course. CTSA’s can advise CONTEST Partners further regarding this course.
  13. CTSA’s can assist with the completion of CT Procedural Reviews.
  14. Engagement with CONTEST delivery partners at an operational, tactical and strategic level. For example, HSE, SEPA, Local Authorities, Local/Regional Resilience Partnerships, Scottish Gov’t, etc. to share best practice.
  15. CTSA’s can offer partners advice on the Creation of Site Security Plans.
  16. NaCTSO Document Awareness – Workshop. This workshop targets the insider threat and promotes better identity document awareness within HR and recruitment departments of companies vulnerable to terrorist attack. It is 1½ hr long, and can accommodate up to 20 staff per session.
  17. Cyber Security - The Critical Security Controls for cyber defence are a baseline of high-priority information security measures and controls that can be applied across an organisation in order to improve its cyber defence. CPNI is participating in an international government-industry effort to promote the Critical Security Controls for computer and network security. The development of these controls is being coordinated by the Centre for Internet Security. The Critical Security Controls can be found through the following link: Cyber Security Controls.

**Please note the signposting provided above is intended to be used as a guide by CONTEST Partners in reducing the vulnerability to their organisations.

These are not intended to be proscriptive or designed to inhibit innovation, nor are they intended to be considered in any form of priority.

If partners require any further assistance please contact a Police Scotland CTSA.

  • CPNI (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) - Centre for the Protection of the National Infrastructure
  • NaCTSO (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) - National Counter Terrorism Security Office
  • MI5 (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) - Security Service
  • CTSA - Counter Terrorism Security Adviser -  Police Scotland CTSA’s are specialists in counter terrorism security management providing protective security advice across various sectors to support business and partner agencies to reduce security vulnerabilities. CTSA’s will promote awareness of the threat from terrorism and develop positive relationships with partners and sites by appropriate discussion of changes in the prevailing threats and the commensurate responses. The CTSA’s are a national unit working closely with other UK Police services and in support of and in partnership with the Centre for the Protection of the National Infrastructure (CPNI).

CTSA’s receive comprehensive specialist training in areas such as explosives and pre-cursor chemicals, pathogens and toxins, radiological sources, site and vulnerable point surveying, business continuity and disaster recovery, information and personnel security, integrated security systems, designing out vehicle borne terrorism and the threat from CBRN attack.

Counter Terrorism Security Advisers

Your Counter Terrorism Security Advisers can be contacted via:
e-mail:
Telephone: 01463 720233 / 01463 720233