UK counter-terrorism response suffers from ‘institutional inertia’

In a report on the Government’s response to terror attacks published yesterday (Tuesday 2 February 2010) the UK Parliament’s Home Affairs Committee calls for the merger of many different counter-terrorism committees into a single, formalised ‘National Security Committee’ chaired by the Home Secretary or Prime Minister and assisted by a ‘Condoleezza Rice-style’ National Security Advisor.

The Committee also says that while the structures now in place may be suitable for combating the terrorist threat as currently constituted it is not confident that government institutions have the desire to constantly adapt to meet ever-changing threats; a lack of political will has hindered the institution of valuable reforms such as regional policing counter-terrorism units; and a “degree of institutional inertia has set in” to counter-terror operations in the UK and those involved in counter-terrorism “may be willing to settle for existing sub-optimal solutions”, rather than proactively reforming to meet ever-changing threats.

It cautions against the creation of a separate National Terrorism Agency modelled on the American Department of Homeland Security, saying that this has the potential to cause major problems and will not represent a major simplification of policing structures. Instead, the primacy of the Metropolitan Police in counter-terrorism operations should be enshrined in statute to increase accountability and simplify the command structures.

http://www.parliament.uk/homeaffairscom/

•Date: 3rd Feb 2010 • Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Terrorism
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