Intelligence Led Policing, The Community, and the Prevention of Terrorism A UK Perspective Chief Inspector Simon Smith Head of Operational Delivery - Prevent National Counter Terrorism Policing HQ simon.smith.nctphq@met.pnn.police.uk

Introductions and Agenda Prevent Strategy – Overview Communities and Terrorism Intelligence handling Counter Terrorism Local Profiles Challenges The Way forward This slide provide and overview to signpost the audience so it is covered as an overview about what the presentation will cover and in what order.

The UK Prevent Strategy Objectives: Challenge extremist ideology Prevent vulnerable individuals from being drawn into terrorism Work with institutions where there are risks of radicalisation. Original strategy 2008 Revised in 2011. Recognition that original objectives in 2009 in promoting cohesion and resilience in communities was flawed. Police led agenda but with the police leading on attempting to resolve social grievances. Securitisation of police engagement creating suspicion 2011 – Separation of integration and cohesion strategies from Prevention of terrorism strategies and activities Home Office responsible for Prevent with department of Communities and Local Government responsible for integration/cohesion activity. Prevent is not a spying program – never has been and never will be. It remains predominantly a ‘Safeguarding’ agenda. Protecting the vulnerable However this does not equate to police processing information which they come into possession of which identifies risk or vulnerability in individuals or localities. Police needs to undertake a core function of their role and that is gather intelligence but they need to do this overtly with the full understanding of the communities they serve.

This is an actual graffiti artist mural in the East End of London in the Borough of Tower Hamlets – deemed to be one of the key priority areas for the delivery of Prevent in the UK. The area has numerous factors which contribute to the development of extremist ideologies The need to understand the communities, the drivers to radicalisation but importantly who are the vulnerable, who are the radicalisers. But equally relevant is how do we tackle the issue

“Communities Defeat Terrorism” The media strap line during the IRA campaigns 30 years ago is still equally relevant today We cannot defeat terrorism in locations like Tower Hamlets without communities or the intelligence that is provided by communities

Key issues: Police and intelligence agencies can grow in size as can their technical capability Cyber intelligence may identify threat and risk But communities provide the solutions: Counter narratives Challenging extremist behaviour Identifying the vulnerable Educating others

Community focused response How do we achieve this? Community focused response 200 ‘Prevent Officers’ across the UK connecting CT policing, Neighbourhood Policing and Communities Assessments of local risk, threat and vulnerability which in turn identify priority areas for resourcing/activity Trust between police and local communities is vital Sustained intelligence led engagement with Communities Overt and transparent police activity However in any crime type community intelligence is vital and we need it. But we achieve this through the Prevent strategy Community focussed as opposed to Community targetted. This may be a top down approach, with intelligence driving the community focus, but the key to the activity is to gain community participation and consent. Recognise the tensions that exist between community focus and community targetting particularly in the yes of the community and the media Skill sets of these officers: Simple – the ability to communicate and build trust and confidence. This is an OVERT strategy. It is not about spying. Police officers declare who they are, wear uniform and communities know what agenda they work in. But as in any other policing interaction, trust is essential – build trust and confidence with known officers, and communities will support the police Embedding overt CT officers with a specific agenda. Whilst they collect intelligence as part of their role, it is a by product of their ongoing relationships and the trust. This is not a short term strategy.

Intelligence handling in Counter Terrorism Policing Decisions/Actions Development Assessment of risk and credibility Information received by police What happens to this intelligence ? Similar processes to many police services

Counter Terrorism Local Profiles (CTLP) Drive the Prevention of Terrorism business in a locality Multi-agency focus Identifies threat, risk and provides for a joint understanding Produced annually across the UK in policing areas Includes intelligence relating to crime and community tensions Used to brief local government, schools, colleges, senior police officers Turn to the Counter Terrorism Local Profile Strategic Analytical product produced since 2009 by counter terrorism analysts Based on community intelligence, investigative intelligence, and intelligence from more sensitive sources It provides detailed analysis on key issues for a locality, provides recommendations on key areas of action. Used to form the basis of yearly joint action plans for “Prevent Officer’

Challenges…. A Toxic Brand ?

Securitising community engagement – it is inevitable

The way forward Community intelligence and support remains vital to prevent terrorism Prevent engagement remains intelligence led. Policing and intelligence are intertwined Police will continue to have a role in engagement with communities and developing community intelligence but responsibilities for engagement will to be shared by others Online role in radicalisation is creating challeneges in the shift from the public community sphere to the private.

Questions. Chief Inspector Simon Smith National CT Policing HQ simon Questions? Chief Inspector Simon Smith National CT Policing HQ simon.smith.nctphq@met.pnn.police.uk