A podcast offering insight into the work of the UK’s Counter Terrorism Policing network has returned for a second series, featuring interviews with officers and specialists involved in national security operations.
The series, titled Inside Counter Terrorism Policing, aims to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the roles carried out by personnel working across the UK’s counter-terrorism structure, including bomb disposal specialists, intelligence officers, lawyers and liaison officers based overseas.
Five new episodes will be released weekly, with the first episode published on Thursday.
The opening episode features an officer referred to as “Clara”, an international Counter Terrorism Policing liaison officer based overseas whose identity has been protected for security reasons. In the episode, she discusses a career that has included work as a homicide detective and hostage negotiator before moving into counter-terrorism roles.
The series explores both the professional and personal experiences of those involved in protecting the UK from terrorist and national security threats. Many participants are speaking publicly about aspects of their work for the first time, with anonymity measures used where necessary. Future episodes will include discussions with an explosives ordnance disposal specialist who has operated in conflict zones, an officer working with convicted terrorists in the community, an online intelligence specialist focused on disrupting plots, and a national security lawyer.
The podcast is hosted by Amy, who said the new series would delve further into the realities of counter-terrorism work. “After the success of the last series, we had to find some new and even more exciting stories to share with you and dig deeper into our investigations,” she said.
“This series we hear about the plots that have been disrupted, insight into some of the toughest decisions our people have to make, and the personal impact protecting national security can have.”
The first series ranked among the top 20 UK true crime podcasts on Apple and Spotify and placed within the top five percent of podcasts globally based on industry data. m. New episodes of Inside Counter Terrorism Policing will be released weekly and are available through podcast platforms including Acast, Spotify and Apple Podcasts, according to Counter Terrorism Policing.
You can find and listen to Inside Counter Terrorism Policing wherever you get your podcasts.
An often overlooked but vital part of the defence and national security of the UK, even though not a part of the MoD. Some can be openly discussed to give an idea how the network has been built up over the years since the London bombings on 7th July 2005.
The network comprises 11 CTU and CTIUs, Counter Terrorist Units and Counter Terrorist Intelligence Units, all now pointlessly rebranded into Counter Terrorist Police NW, NE, SE, and so on.
CTUs, London area, South East, West Midlands, North West, North East.
CTIUs, East, East Midlands, South West, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.
The CTUs have more assets, and include a CTPOC, Counter Terrorist Police Operations Centre, to co ordinate assets in that area.
Some are co located with other police elements from the National Crime Agency, and Police ROCUs, Regional Organised Crime Units, while others are at stand alone locations. All are covert, or at locations not published by HMG, so no comment on locations from me.
All CTU and CTIU fall under Counter Terrorist Command, which has the national CTOC, Counter Terrorist Operations Centre, which controls all UK activity. This is based at the Empress State
Building in London, and is the only location that has been openly named as it was opened by the Mayor of London and the Home Secretary. Elements of the military and other intelligence agencies, including the Security Service, are involved here as well to improve liaison and response to incidents.
The Security Service, who work alongside the CTP, has several Regional Stations and a Northern Operations Centre, to improve liaison with local CTP and local Special Branches. Locations, I won’t ever go there, but the Northern Operations Centre location is public knowledge if you look.
Obviously, the standard response to ongoing terror incidents can be from 22 SAS CTW, who can respond using 658 AAC if needed. It was reported that elements of 22 are also forward deployed at undisclosed locations to reduce response times.
The Police also have the CTPSFO network. Both have been seen at Manchester, Newcastle, in London, and at Aldwytch tube station, used for exercises.
They can work with police surveillance teams but primarily work with A Branch, part of the the Security Service, and especially it’s A4 element, making hard arrests or killing terrorists in the act, no ridiculous handcuffs about not “shooting to kill” here, like the fuss in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, due to the threat of islamic suicide Bombers.
The CTP also work in the area previously the preserve of Special Branch, against other state threats such as Counter Espionage.
If more military support is needed, there are Army CBRN elements, certain Royal Signals Support, RE EOD Elements, and I believe a Company of the SFSG can be tasked if needed.
All open source, thought I’d add my two pennies worth on the structure and assets available, an area at least we have not neglected, unlike our military.
Re reading my post, I forgot to mention the SRR. A lot of the skills now used were developed in Northern Ireland by 14 Company, and then by JCUNI, not just in traditional foot and vehicle surveillance, but in technology, as CCTV tech advanced.
The SRR was reported to be involved in the surveillance of De Menez in 2005, for which Dick got away Scott free, and also at the London Olympics in 2012, so how much they contribute in the UK today, it’s interesting to speculate.