CPNI in context

CPNI's protective security advice forms a part of the Government's counter terrorism strategy. The key aim of the counter-terrorism strategy is to reduce the risk from international terrorism so that people can go about their business freely and with confidence.

Who is involved?

Developing and delivering the Government's counter-terrorism strategy involves stakeholders from across government departments, the emergency services, voluntary organisations, the business sector and partners from across the world.

What is the strategy based on?

Since early 2003, the United Kingdom has had a long-term strategy for countering international terrorism (known within Government as CONTEST). The strategy is divided into four principal strands: Prevent, Pursue, Protect and Prepare. CPNI's work falls within the Protect strand. In March 2009 the Government published a revised version of CONTEST.

Prevent

The Prevent strand is concerned with tackling the radicalisation of individuals, both in the UK and elsewhere, which sustains the international terrorist threat.

Pursue

The Pursue strand is concerned with reducing the terrorist threat to the UK and to UK interests overseas by disrupting terrorists and their operations.

Protect

The Protect strand is concerned with reducing the vulnerability of the UK and UK interests overseas to a terrorist attack. This covers a range of issues including:

• protecting key utilities by working with the private sector
• strengthening border security, so that terrorists and those who inspire them can be prevented from travelling here and we can get better intelligence about suspects who travel, including improving our identity management
• reducing the risk and impact of attacks on the transport system through security and technological advances
• protecting people going about their daily lives in crowded places

Prepare

The Prepare strand is concerned with ensuring that the UK is as ready as it can be for the consequences of a terrorist attack.

Lord West review

Lord West's Review was carried out within the framework of the Government's counter terrorism strategy (CONTEST) and, in particular, the Protect pillar. In effect, it has reviewed a substantial proportion of the overall Protect programme, and the reports reflect the progress made since the start of the review in August 2007.

The Home Secretary met Lord West and Tony McNulty on 10 October and agreed the recommendations.

The Review report was submitted to the Prime Minister on 22 October. On Wednesday 14 November, the Home Secretary submitted a written ministerial statement to Parliament on security in crowded places. Read the statement on the Hansard website.

National Risk Register

In August 2008 the Government published the National Risk Register to provide an assessment of the most significant emergencies which the UK and its citizens could face over the next five years.

It is set out in categories relating to natural events and accidents, malicious acts and attacks and its purpose is to help businesses, organisations, community groups and individuals prepare for emergencies as well as encouraging public debate on security.

Read the full National Risk Register on Cabinet Office website (new window).

Resilience of infrastructure from natural hazards

The Civil Contingencies Secretariat within the Cabinet Office has developed a cross-sector Critical Infrastructure Resilience Programme (CIRP), with the aim of improving the resilience of critical infrastructure and essential services to severe disruption from natural hazards. The process, timetable and expectations for the programme are detailed in the Strategic Framework and Policy statement. Read the statement on the Cabinet Office website.

Cyber Security Strategy

The Government has published its first national Cyber Security Strategy alongside the annual update of the National Security Strategy.

The Cyber Security Strategy refers to cross-Government partnership with business, international partners and the public on cyber security and announces the establishment of an Office of Cyber Security and a Cyber Security Operations Centre.

CPNI is highlighted in the strategy as one of the organisations that interface on cyber security and as an example of partnership working with industry.

CPNI has been fully engaged in the process for developing the strategy along with Cabinet Office, GCHQ and other Government departments, and supports it as a means of ensuring safety, security and resilience in cyber space.

Read the Cyber Security Strategy on the Cabinet Office website