The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) has today lowered the UK threat level from severe to substantial, the lowest level since before the 7/7 London bombings.
This means that an attack on the UK is still a ‘strong possibility’ but is lower than the ‘highly likely’ level that the UK has been at for some time and the critical level ‘expected imminently’ that the JTAC raised us to after the attacks on London’s transport system in July 2005, and again after the Haymarket and Glasgow Airport attacks of June 2007.
The Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, said that the country still faces a “real and serious” threat from terrorists.
“This means that an attack on the UK is a ‘strong possibility’. JTAC make their judgments based on a broad range of factors, including the intent and capabilities of international terrorist groups in the UK.
“We still face a real and serious threat from terrorists and the public will notice little difference in the security measures that are in place and I urge the public to remain vigilant.
“The police and security services are continuing in their thorough efforts to discover, track and disrupt terrorist activity.”
Earlier in the month, the country’s most senior counter-terrorism police officer John Yates, hinted that the change was coming, addressing the Association of Chief Police Officers conference in Manchester he said “I think there is a possibility the threat level may come down. It is logical because we cannot keep having it high unless the threat is there.”
The treat level is constantly under review and as more intelligence is gathered the JTAC, a multi-agency unit, staffed by members of the intelligence agencies MI5, MI6, Defense Intelligence Staff as well as members of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Home Office, and from the police, will make a decision as to the next move.
The UK’s Threat Level System
- Low – an attack is unlikely
- Moderate – an attack is possible, but not likely
- Substantial – an attack is a strong possibility
- Severe – an attack is highly likely
- Critical – an attack is expected imminently
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