UK Threat Levels explained

UK Threat Levels
Subheader:United Kingdom Terror Threat Levels
Caption1:Sign at the Ministry of Defence Main Building declaring a "HEIGHTENED" counter-terrorist response level
Header1:General information
Label2:Current Level (National)
Data2:SUBSTANTIAL
Label3:Current Level (Northern Ireland)
Data3:SUBSTANTIAL

The United Kingdom Terror Threat Levels, often referred to as UK Threat Levels, are the alert states that have been in use since 1 August 2006 by the British government to warn of forms of terrorist activity. In September 2010 the threat levels for Northern Ireland-related terrorism were also made available.[1] In July 2019 changes were made to the terrorism threat level system, to reflect the threat posed by all forms of terrorism, irrespective of ideology. There is now a single national threat level describing the threat to the UK, which includes Islamist, Northern Ireland, left-wing and right-wing terrorism. Before 2006, a colour-based alert scheme known as BIKINI state was used.[2] The response indicates how government departments and agencies and their staffs should react to each threat level.

Categories of threat

Since 23 July 2019, the Home Office has reported two different categories of terrorist threat:

Previously, since 24 September 2010, the Home Office has reported three different categories of terrorist threat:[3] [4]

A fourth category of terrorist threat is also assessed but is not disclosed, relating to threats to sectors of the UK's critical national infrastructure such as the London Underground, National Rail network and power stations.[5]

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) is responsible for setting the threat level from international terrorism and the Security Service (MI5) is responsible for setting both threat levels related to Northern Ireland.[1] The threat level informs decisions on protective security measures taken by public bodies, the police and the transport sector.[6]

Threat levels

Threat level[7] Response
width=90 Criticalwidth=220 An attack is highly likely in the near future.ExceptionalMaximum protective security. Critical measures to meet specific threats and to minimise vulnerability and risk
SevereAn attack is highly likely.HeightenedAdditional and sustainable substantial and severe protective security measures reflecting the broad nature of the threat combined with specific business and geographical vulnerabilities and judgements on acceptable risk.
SubstantialAn attack is likely.
ModerateAn attack is possible, but not likely.NormalRoutine protective security. Low and moderate measures appropriate to the business concerned.
LowAn attack is highly unlikely.
Threat Levels are decided using the following information:

History

Threat levels were originally produced by MI5's Counter-Terrorism Analysis Centre for internal use within the British government. Assessments known as Security Service Threat Reports or Security Service Reports were issued to assess the level of threat to British interests in a given country or region. They had six levels: Imminent, High, Significant, Moderate, Low and Negligible. Following terrorist attacks in Indonesia in 2002, the system was criticised by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (ISC) as insufficiently clear and needing to be of greater use to "customer departments".[8]

The 7 July 2005 London bombings prompted the government to update the threat level system following a recommendation from the ISC that it should deliver "a greater transparency of the threat level and alert systems as a whole, and in particular [it is recommended] that more thought is given to what is put in the public domain about the level of threat and required level of alert." The system was accordingly simplified and made easier to understand.[9] Since 2006, MI5 and the Home Office have published international terrorism threat levels for the entire UK on their websites, and since 2010 they have also published threat levels for Northern Ireland, with separate threat levels for Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.[10]

2019 'New Reporting Format'

In July 2019 changes were made to the terrorism threat level system creating a 'New Format' of threat levels, to reflect the threat posed by all forms of terrorism, irrespective of ideology. There is now a single national threat level describing the threat to the UK, which includes Islamist, Northern Ireland, left-wing and right-wing terrorism.

Changes to threat levels

The following table records changes to the threat levels from July 2019 – Present:

DateNational Threat LevelNorthern Ireland-related Threat Level to Northern Ireland
23 July 2019SevereSevere
4 November 2019Substantial
3 November 2020Severe
4 February 2021Substantial
15 November 2021Severe
9 February 2022Substantial
22 March 2022Substantial
28 March 2023[11] Severe
6 March 2024[12] Substantial

Old-Format, Historical Threat Levels

Since 2006, information about the national threat level has been available on the MI5 and Home Office websites. In September 2010 the threat levels for Northern Ireland-related terrorism were also made available. The following table records changes to the threat levels from August 2006 – July 2019 before the 'New Format' was put into place:

Date National Threat Level of International Terrorism Threat from Northern Ireland-related terrorism
in Northern Irelandin Great Britain
1 August 2006 Severe Not Reported
10 August 2006 Critical
13 August 2006 Severe
30 June 2007 Critical
4 July 2007 Severe
20 July 2009 Substantial
22 January 2010 Severe
24 September 2010SevereSubstantial
11 July 2011 Substantial
24 October 2012Moderate
29 August 2014 Severe
11 May 2016Substantial
23 May 2017 Critical
27 May 2017 Severe
15 September 2017 Critical
17 September 2017 Severe
1 March 2018Moderate

See also

Historic/Defunct:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Threat Levels. 2021-08-15. www.mi5.gov.uk. en. Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
  2. http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/general/Threat-Levels Threat Levels
  3. Web site: Irish terror attack a 'strong possibility'. 25 September 2010. 20 December 2010. BBC News.
  4. Web site: Press Release: Increased risk of Irish-related terrorism. 24 September 2010. 20 December 2010. United Kingdom Home Office.
  5. News: Was it a mistake to lower the UK terror threat before London Bridge attack?. Bunkall. Alistair. Sky News. 4 June 2016. 4 June 2016.
  6. Book: Foley, Frank. Countering Terrorism in Britain and France: Institutions, Norms and the Shadow of the Past. 2013. Cambridge University Press. 978-1-107-02969-9. 166.
  7. Web site: Threat Levels and building response plans. 2021-08-15. GOV.UK. en.
  8. Book: Hennessey. Thomas. Thomas. Claire. Spooks the Unofficial History of MI5 From the First Atom Spy to 7/7 1945–2009. 2011. Amberley Publishing Limited. 978-1-4456-0801-3. 228–9.
  9. Book: Staniforth. Andrew. Sampson. Fraser. The Routledge Companion to UK Counter-Terrorism. 2012. Routledge. 978-1-136-25430-7. 276.
  10. Web site: Threat levels. MI5. 1 April 2017.
  11. Web site: Jamie Grierson . Northern Ireland terrorism threat level rises to 'severe' . . 28 March 2023 . 28 March 2023.
  12. News: 2024-03-06 . NI terrorism threat level reduced to substantial . 2024-03-06 . BBC News . en-GB.