CONTEST

CONTEST is the United Kingdom's counter-terrorism strategy. It was first developed by the Home Office in early 2003, and a revised version was made publicly available in 2006. Further revisions were published on 24 March 2009, 11 July 2011 and most recently, in June 2018. An Annual Report on the implementation of CONTEST was released in March 2010 and, most recently, in April 2014. The aim of the strategy is 'to reduce the risk to the UK and its interests overseas from terrorism, so that people can go about their lives freely and with confidence.' CONTEST is the United Kingdom's counter-terrorism strategy. It was first developed by the Home Office in early 2003, and a revised version was made publicly available in 2006. Further revisions were published on 24 March 2009, 11 July 2011 and most recently, in June 2018. An Annual Report on the implementation of CONTEST was released in March 2010 and, most recently, in April 2014. The aim of the strategy is 'to reduce the risk to the UK and its interests overseas from terrorism, so that people can go about their lives freely and with confidence.' CONTEST is split into four work streams that are known within the counter-terrorism community as the 'four P's': Prevent, Pursue, Protect, and Prepare. The 'Prevent' strategy has provoked notable controversy. The purpose of Prevent is to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. This includes countering terrorist ideology and challenging those who promote it, supporting individuals who are especially vulnerable to becoming radicalized, and working with sectors and institutions where the risk of radicalization is assessed to be high. The deradicalisation programme is known as Channel. It is led by the police and liberal Muslim mentors who do not espouse any anti-Western violence. As of February 2015, all NHS staff are required to undergo basic Prevent awareness training and schools have a statutory duty to have due regard in the prevention of terrorism. This 'duty' does not extend to teachers, but enables schools to embed safeguard measures against radicalisation within their standard safeguarding policies. The leader of the June 2017 London Bridge attack and his brother were involved with Prevent. The perpetrator of the Parsons Green bombing had been referred to Prevent. The purpose of Pursue is to stop terrorist attacks by detecting, prosecuting and otherwise disrupting those who plot to carry out attacks against the UK or its interests overseas. The purpose of Protect is to strengthen protection against a terrorist attack in the UK or its interests overseas and thus reducing their vulnerability. The work focuses on border security, the transport system, national infrastructure and public places. The process works by first recognising the threats and then identifying the measures to reduce risks. The purpose of Prepare is to mitigate the impact of a terrorist attack in an event whereby that attack cannot be stopped. This includes bringing a terrorist attack to an end and increasing the UK's resilience so the country can recover quickly in its aftermath.