Commentary

National Security Strategy

We Are all Protestors Now Those entrusted with the security of the Olympic Games must consider how they keep the peace in the face of global and well organised protest.
9 Apr 2008

The Chemical Weapons Convention: the Second Review Conference and Beyond The forthcoming Second Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention provides an opportunity to review the impact of the decade that has passed since the Convention’s entry into force.
6 Mar 2008

Counter Terrorism Bill 2008 The new Counter Terrorism Bill 2008 proposes several changes to existing UK laws but it is the controversial extension to the period of detention without charge that has grabbed most of the media attention. As Jacqui Smith presented the Counter Terrorism Bill to Parliament on 24 January, the furore surrounding the pre-charge detention period for suspects cast a shadow, leaving scant consideration among the media and politicians alike for other important aspects of the Bill.
25 Jan 2008

The Prospect of a ‘No Hazards’ 2008? A retrospective of things to come. From attempted mass-casualty terrorist attacks, to cyber attacks, flooding to foot and mouth and bluetongue outbreaks, 2007 was an ‘all-hazards’ year for the UK.
18 Jan 2008

‘Lyrical terrorist’ avoids jail Many commentators have commented that Samina Malik was convicted of a 'thought crime'. In fact, the self-styled 'lyrical terrorist' was guilty of crossing a line that is defined in law and is being punished for doing so.
10 Dec 2007

25 million exposed to identity fraud – an easy mistake to make? The episode of HM Revenue and Customs losing data points to deeper problems of how we as a society value and thus secure information
22 Nov 2007

A ‘Simple Sailor’ in a Crowded Place: Terrorism and Society The newly-revealed counter-terrorist measures (revealed 14 November) places an emphasis on protecting the very fabric of our society. It will be the continuing and necessary functioning of society, its ability to adapt, adjust and overcome, that makes terrorism so ordinary, pathetic, lethal and impotent.
16 Nov 2007

Securing the UK Borders The speech made by Gordon Brown on 14 November, in advance of the National Security Strategy which will be published in the next few weeks, sets out a strategy for preventing future terrorist attacks on the UK. Much of the new content of Brown’s speech pertained to Lord West’s review of physical security measures within the UK. These included the introduction of barriers to keep potential vehicle borne bombs away from key areas and designing bomb-resistant features into new buildings.
16 Nov 2007

Public Speaking On Monday 5 November in his first public speech, Jonathan Evans, Director General of the Security Service, spoke to The Society of Editors about the challenges facing his service and, in particular, the threat from violent extremism.
11 Nov 2007

Action and Accountability The guilty verdict applied to the Metropolitan Police Service in relation to Health and Safety breaches over the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes completes a necessary circle of action and accountability.
6 Nov 2007

De Menezes: What are the lessons that need to be learnt? Yesterday, an Old Bailey jury ruled that London’s Metropolitan Police had broken health and safety laws and unnecessarily put the public at risk in the hours before fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.
2 Nov 2007

Timing the General Election – a view from RUSI’s Director of Homeland Security and Resilience There are undoubtedly myriad complex reasons, some good and some bad, behind Gordon Brown’s decision not hold a snap General Election in November 2007.
12 Oct 2007

Conference Report RUSI’s fourth annual resilience conference took place on 19-20 September 2007, supported by a diverse cast of speakers, perspectives and issues. The conference was framed around the idea of ‘delivering resilience’ and, to this end, sought to explore the themes, policies, mechanisms and organizations that are central to delivering resilience for the UK.
12 Oct 2007

Assessing the All Hazards Summer Whilst summer seems to have come and gone without any real recourse to its default position of hot weather and sunshine, the summer of 2007 will always be remembered as a summer of hazards, a summer of loss.
13 Sep 2007

A Change in Tactics? On the afternoon of 4 September 2007, police in Germany arrested three people suspected of planning major terrorist attacks on Frankfurt’s airport and the United States military base at Ramstein.
6 Sep 2007

July 7: Do we need an inquest? 31 Aug 2007

The need for a UK Civil Defence Force? 30 Jul 2007

All Change? Brown’s New Terror Proposals Barely a month into his Premiership, Gordon Brown has unveiled his new security proposals.
26 Jul 2007

Situation Critical? As of Wednesday, 4 July, the current threat level in the UK remains at Critical, having been raised to this, the highest of five possible levels, on Saturday 30 June following failed car bomb attacks on Central London and Glasgow Airport.
4 Jul 2007

The Australian Connection Australians have a lot of sympathy for the UK when it suffers a terrorist attack. Many Australians have significant connections to the UK, so the incidents in London and Glasgow were front page news and lead stories in newscasts on Australian television.
4 Jul 2007

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