(The Secretary
of State for the Home Department): I am today
announcing changes to the terrorism threat level system. As
recommended in the Operational Improvement Review, the Joint
Terrorism Analysis Centre have taken an increased role in assessing
all form of terrorism, irrespective of the ideology that inspires
them.
The national threat level system will now take account of the
assessments from all forms of terrorism, including Islamist,
Northern Ireland, and extreme right-wing. The threat from
Northern Ireland-related terrorism in Northern Ireland will
remain separate from the national threat level.
Also, to ensure clarity in the threat level system, I am also
announcing the change in definition of the LOW, SUBSTANTIAL and
CRITICAL threat levels. The threat levels will now be defined as
below:
• CRITICAL meaning an attack is highly likely in the near
future
• SEVERE meaning an attack is highly likely
• SUBSTANTIAL meaning an attack is likely
• MODERATE meaning an attack is possible but not likely
• LOW meaning an attack is highly unlikely
The changes made today do not affect the current threat level.
The threat level to the UK from terrorism remains at SEVERE, and
the threat level to Northern Ireland from Northern
Ireland-related terrorism also remains at SEVERE, meaning that an
attack is highly likely.
Threat levels are designed to give a broad indication of the
likelihood of a terrorist attack. They are a tool for security
practitioners working across different sectors and the police to
use in determining what protective security response may be
required. They also keep the public informed and give context to
the protective security measures which we all encounter in our
daily lives.
There remains a real and serious threat against the United
Kingdom from terrorism and I would ask the public to remain
vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the police
regardless of the threat level.
The decision to change the terrorism threat levels are taken by
the independent from Ministers. The Joint Terrorism Analysis
Centre set the national threat level and the Security Service set
the Northern Ireland-related Terrorism in Northern Ireland threat
level. These are based on the very latest intelligence,
considering factors such as capability, intent and timescale.
Threat levels are kept under constant review.
