UK Terrorism Threat Level is Substantial - What Does This Mean?

The current terrorism threat level to the UK is “substantial”. In our latest blog post we look at what this means and consider what can be done to mitigate risks.

There are currently 56 conflicts around the world involving 92 countries, the highest number since the end of World War II. In 2023 over 90% of terrorist attacks and 98% of deaths due to terrorism took place in conflict zones. But terrorism has become more concentrated and tends to thrive in countries challenged by poor ecology and the rapid impact of climate change. It is notable that the centre for terrorist attacks is no longer the Middle East. The hotbed for terrorism is now the Central Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa where over 50% of all deaths due to terrorism occur.

Just ten countries account for 87% of terrorism related deaths. They are:

Recently, German officials warned that Islamist terrorists may be planning an attack on the Euro 2024 football championship venue. There are fears of an incident similar to the attack in March on the Crocus Concert Hall in Moscow in which 137 people were killed.

What is the UK Terrorism Threat Level?

The UK terrorism threat levels, often called UK threat levels, were established by the British Government in 2006 to provide a warning of potential terrorist activity. The system was updated in 2019 to reflect all forms of terrorism, irrespective of ideology. Since 2019 the Home Office has reported two categories of terrorist threat:

• National Threat Level.
• Northern Ireland-related Threat Level to Northern Ireland

These threat levels are used to inform decisions on security measures that need to be implemented by public bodies, the police and the transport sector.

There are five defined threat levels:

The threat level in the UK is currently ‘Substantial’.

Threat levels are determined and decided by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) based on available intelligence, terrorist capability, terrorist intentions and timescale.

UK Terrorism Threat Level History

Since July 2019 the National Threat Level has varied from Severe to Substantial. In July 2020 the National Threat Level escalated to `severe` following the Vienna attack in which a lone gunman killed four civilians and injured 23 others. In February 2021 the threat level reverted to ‘substantial’ but escalated to ‘severe’ again in November 2021 in response to the Liverpool Women’s hospital bombing in which an improvised explosive device, carried by a taxi passenger, was ignited, killing the passenger and injuring the driver. The police later declared this incident to be a terrorist attack perpetrated by someone who had been refused asylum.

The National Threat Level reverted to ‘substantial’ in February 2022. But the shooting of off-duty Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in February 2023 raised the Northern Ireland threat level of ‘severe’.

Counter Terrorism Protection for People and Businesses

Although the UK threat level is currently ‘substantial’ the likelihood of anyone being affected by a terrorist attack is very low. The odds of dying from a terrorist attack in the UK were calculated in 2017 to be 1 in 590,389.

On the 22nd May 2017, an Islamic terrorist suicide bombing attack on the Manchester Arena, following a concert by pop singer Ariana Grande, killed 22 people and injured 1,017. This was the deadliest act of terrorism experienced in the UK since the July 2005 London bombings.

This horrendous attack has prompted the introduction of Martyn’s law to improve protective security and organisational preparedness across the UK. The bill requires those responsible for premises and events to thoroughly consider terrorist risk and how they will respond to an attack.

The Terrorism Protection of Premises Bill, otherwise known as ‘Martyn’s Law’, is expected to become law in 2024. It will require those responsible for certain locations to put measures in place to mitigate the threat of terrorist attacks.

Staying Safe at Gigs and Festivals

Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK is collaborating with big music venues, festivals and events to help ensure they are as safe as they can be. They have compiled these useful tips to enable to people to remain safe.

• Arrive early for extra security measures. This will help prevent delays in getting into the event.
• Be patient with security checks and don’t give security, staff or stewards a hard time. It might seem inconvenient, but these measures are in place to help you.
• It is essential that you don’t bring unnecessary items to the event; this will help to speed up searches and your entry to the event.
• If you spot someone acting suspiciously, report it to police or to security staff immediately: don’t leave it to someone else.
• In an emergency, if you think there is an immediate risk, always call 999 and look around you for help from staff – especially those with radios who can raise the alarm quickly.
• Don’t leave bags unattended or anywhere they could cause a security scare. And never agree to look after anyone else’s bags, no matter how genuine they seem.
• If there is an incident, listen to staff and any announcements.
• Remember, the chance of being caught in a terrorism incident is small. But if it happens – Run, Hide, Tell.

As noted, one of the primary recommendations is to arrive early and be prepared to undergo extra security measures. These can include metal detection scanning, bag searches and possibly body searches.

Portable Metal Detecting Arch

The use of metal detecting arches at airports and travel hubs is now very familiar to most travellers. These valuable security devices are now commonly employed in schools, colleges and public premises where they effectively deter the carrying of knives, weapons and devices.

The MDP1 highly sensitive metal detecting arch is a high performance walk-through metal detector specifically designed to meet the stringent security requirements of all manner of events and premises. The portable arch operates from either batteries or mains power and has an IP54 rating, boosted to IP67 with the additional canopy, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. When packed up this unit comfortably fits into the back of a standard hatchback car and weighs just 42kg.

Assembly and erection is very simple making this metal detector arch ideal for rapid deployment. The eight components of the arch can be put together by one person in around 5 to 7 minutes and much quicker if two people work together. So the arch is readily deployed exactly where its needed, maybe at a festival or outdoor event, without any worries about extensive time required to set it up.

Hand Held Metal Detecting Wands and Mitts

Hand held metal detecting wands are also very familiar to anyone who has travelled through an airport. If a metal detecting arch raises an alert that a person or bag might contain a metallic object a metal detecting wand is often employed to isolate exactly where the item is located.

Metal detecting mitts or gloves are another form of metal detecting device that enable users to rapidly scan for knives or other prohibited metal objects. Like the metal detecting wands, these devices enable the rapid scanning of subjects without the need to come into contact with their bodies. They are popular with nightclub door staff and event security professionals who need to quickly but reliably process queues of attendees without causing annoying delays.

Random Search Selectors

One of the big challenges faced by those responsible for security scanning people and bags is making random selections. While some events and locations, such as airports, require every individual to undergo security clearance there are many situations where adequate risk mitigation is achieved by random selection of subjects to be scanned. Making security operatives responsible for the selection of subjects or bags to be scanned leaves them open to accusations of bias, prejudice or favouritism. What’s needed is a very simple-to-use method to ensure that every selection is truly random and free from bias.

 Our Random Search Selectors provide exactly what’s needed. Subjects simply need to hit the big red button and the device then randomly tells security operatives to either ‘search’ or ‘pass’ the subject.

The Random Search Selector, powered by either battery or mains, is easily configured to define the percentage of subjects that need to be checked. Even when configured with a very low ‘stop’ percentage of only 5% (1 in 20) this acts as a very powerful deterrent to anyone who might consider carrying a weapon or device into a premises or event. And importantly, using the Random Search Selector totally overcomes any potential accusations of bias or prejudice.

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