CONTEST is the United Kingdom's counter-terrorism strategy,[1] first developed by Sir David Omand and the Home Office in early 2003 as the immediate response to 9/11,[2] and a revised version was made public in 2006.
[8][page needed] Prevent is a key strategy in the UK’s counter terrorism frameworks which CONTEST introduced following the 7/7 London terrorist attacks in 2005.
[18] Prevent adopts a multi-agency approach, using local authorities, schools, healthcare providers, police, and other sectors to recognise and support individuals at risk.
[20] Despite the voluntary nature of Channels resulting in only 13% of Prevent referrals adopted in the year ending March 2022; of these 89% finished the program with no further concerns of radicalisation.
[20] There are multiple types of terrorists that are being pursued under this system, including: Counter Terrorism Policing work with MI5 to develop intelligence, and with the Crown Prosecution Service to put compelling evidence before the courts.
Counter-terrorism policing, MI5, and wider intelligence work together closely to investigate, detect, and disrupt terrorism, alongside the Criminal Justice System.
[20] An important element of Pursue is the independent oversight regime, which scrutinises the significant powers and tools used to stop potential terrorist attacks, ensuring they are used proportionately and appropriately.
[7][53] He has since pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism by travelling to Turkey to join IS in Syria, as well as being charged with being a member of the proscribed group, IS, and receiving training in the use of firearms.
[53] Although there are specific terrorist offences which are criminalised in the UK, the prosecution process remains the same, and prosecutors are tried fairly through the mainstream criminal justice system.
[55] In 2021 Greer emphasised why this process is significant stating that it "... offers the best prospects of securing the legitimacy of counterterrorist law enforcement and of maintaining public confidence in it.
The primary purpose to strengthen the defences against terrorist attacks through the implementation of safeguarding and infrastructures to protect people and public places.
[20] Delivered through collaborative counter-terrorism efforts by government departments, intelligence agencies, operational experts, private sectors, and international allies.
[19] Safety mechanism techniques like the use of concrete or metal barriers on crowded pedestrian places like bridges and shopping centres, to minimise the degree of damage.
[19]Alongside enhancement of protective security for events or crowded spaces through personnel and environmental design principles aim to reduce vulnerability to attacks.
[61] Protect addresses the risk of attack in all forms of transportation with increased police presence at airports, train, and bus stations.
[20] Protects methods are constantly under review, using the latest techniques and technologies to ensure they are adapting to the ever-changing tactics of terrorist organisations.
[20] Requiring reporting of suspicious transactions and strict controls of the sale of harmful chemicals as essential mechanism in counter terrorism measures.
[19] Protect also address the threat of terrorism at the UK borders, with measures aimed at identifying and intercepting dangerous individuals and goods.
[19] Under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, law enforcement have the authority to stop, search and detain individuals that show signs of suspicion to be a threat to security.
Prepare is the final strand of CONTEST, with a primary goal to mitigate the impact of terrorist attacks, by ensuring co-ordinated responses and effective support and recovery efforts for the public.
Particularly considering the changes in terrorist tactics, identified in the Manchester and the London Bridge attacks in 2017, singling out ‘soft targets’ like public spaces to create as much disturbance as possible as they are hard to defend.
[66] In an article written for The Observer, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated that the strategy is "recognised by our allies to be world-leading in its wide-ranging nature, [and] leaves us better prepared and strengthened in our ability to ensure all peace-loving people of this country can live normally, with confidence and free from fear.
"[67] The 'Prevent' strategy was criticised in 2009 by Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, as a domestic spying programme collecting intelligence about the beliefs of British Muslims not involved in criminal activity.
In November 2018, the University of Reading highlighted the article Our Morals: The Ethics of Revolution by Professor Norman Geras as potentially harmful.
[75] In March 2019, the Court of Appeal found that the Prevent guidance on inviting controversial speakers at universities was unlawfully unbalanced and must be rewritten.
[82] There have been concerns raised in response to the increased policing and surveillance of cities with large Muslim communities like Birmingham and Manchester, leading to accusations of racial or religious profiling.
Due to social isolation and increased reliance on the internet, there are concerns over the potential grooming, and later radicalisation, of vulnerable young people.
As a result of face-to-face teaching being suspended and most schools and statutory agencies closing throughout the nationwide lockdown, there has been a marked decrease in the number of people referred to the Prevent programme since restrictions were put in place.
Whilst the full effect of COVID restrictions are yet to be seen, the police are encouraging schools to place an emphasis on safeguarding those most vulnerable and provide the resources necessary to help combat radicalisation grooming.
[84] At the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact chaired by Emmanuel Macron in Paris on 22–23 June 2023, CONTEST was presented by Fiona Hill, former chief of staff to Theresa May as home secretary and prime minister, as an exemplar for interdepartmental cooperation for tackling major threats, and a paradigm for how governments should tackle international development and climate change.