In 2007 the RUSI Homeland Security & Resilience Department conference, Politics and Terrorism, examined how counter-terrorism strategy has adapted to meet a threat that was only belatedly recognised and has evolved rapidly.

Leading policy-makers and practitioners outlined how UK police forces and government can restructure to fight a threat which, while currently perceived to focus on the capital, is nationwide in reach and international in origin.

Keynote Presentations

Lord Falconer, Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor

Tony McNulty, Minister for Policing, Security and Community Safety, Home Office

Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman, Chair of ACPO Terrorist and Allied Matters and Chair of the National Counter Terrorism (CT) Tasking and Coordinating Group

Kenneth J. Krieg, Under Secretary of Defense of Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, DoD

Conference Themes

Anti-terrorism legislation remains high on the agenda and with proposals for a consolidation bill in 2008 it is important that the effectiveness and legitimacy of existing legislation is examined. Has anti-terrorism legislation been used effectively and in the context for which it was intended? How should we guard against ‘mission creep’ in the application and extension of the law and guard human rights and civil liberties?

Domestic extremism and radicalisation are issues exhaustively discussed but what substantive work is actually underway? How can we bring it to the fore and extend its reach? The conference aims to develop the debate in this area and explore how the indistinct aims of community cohesion and security can be achieved.

An effective, coherent and measured articulation of the threat is essential in order to counter

extremist propaganda, reassure and inform the public and deny terrorist groups the success they aim for. How do Government, Media and Public pronouncements and perceptions interact and to what effect?

Speakers

Mariot Leslie, Director, Defense and Strategic Threats, Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Tucker, Head, National Community Tension Team, Association of Chief Police Officers

Denis O' Connor, Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, HMIC

Dr. Anne Speckhard, Adjunct Associate Professor, Georgetown University Medical Center

Professor John Mueller, Woody Hayes Chair of National Security Studies, Mershon Center, Professor of Political Science, Ohio State University

Professor Frank Gregory, Professor of European Security, Jean Monnet Chair in European Political Integration, University of Southampton

Lord Harris, Metropolitan Police Authority

Jonathan Paris, Adjunct fellow, Hudson Institute. London-based Middle East and Islamic Movement analyst

Sidney Shipton OBE, The Three Faiths Forum

Dr. Eric Metcalfe, Human Rights Police Director, JUSTICE

Rick Nunes-Vaz, Land Operations Division, Defence Science & Technology Organisation, Australia

Dr. Rhiannon Talbot, Newcastle Law School, Newcastle University

Professor Gino Verleye, Department of Communications, University of Gent

Dr. Daud Abdullah, Deputy Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain

Dr. Richard Jackson, Senior Lecturer, University of Manchester

Conference Structure and Purpose

Over two days the conference covered the major themes of RUSI’s current work and the issues raised channelled the focus for further workshops and roundtable discussions throughout the year.  Our aim is always to develop the existing debate and introduce new ideas to aid understanding and policy development.

The Homeland Security & Resilience Department always welcomes comments, suggestions and feedback from delegates and partners. Please contact the project manager or relevant department head.

Recognising the value that delegates may take from individual speakers, we are trialling the provision of USB flash drive to all paying delegates loaded with presentations received from speakers.*

For a programme click here