Publication

After its first public version appeared in 2006 the UK’s counter-terrorism (CT) strategy, CONTEST was published in a much expanded version in March 2009. This paper provides a critical overview of the 2009 version with particular emphasis upon: outcomes measurement; the CONTEST ‘Prevent’ focus on countering violent extremism and CONTEST (2009)’s much heightened emphasis on the terrorist CBRN threat. The author notes that CONTEST (2009)’s expanded length is related to a belated UK Government awareness of the need for better public understanding of the Government’s perception of the international terrorism threat facing the UK.