Better intelligence sharing with local authorities

In a speech on an overhaul of the UK’s counter terror strategy, Home Secretary Sajid Javid is expected to reveal plans for increased sharing of information between government, local authorities and the police.

While the main discussion point is likely to centre around MI5 declassifying and sharing information on UK citizens suspected of having terrorist sympathies, Javid will also discuss increased sharing of information between security services, the private sector and other partners, which will see intelligence shared more between government, local authorities and the police.

The Home Secretary’s speech is also expected to include calls for increased maximum sentences for some offences, improving the use of data to track terrorism suspects and outlining a new approach to deal with right-wing extremism, which Javid suggests is more closely linked with ISIS than people may think.

Discussing the plans, Simon Blackburn, chair of the Local Government Association’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “Local authorities are engaging with all areas of society and working with community groups to help protect their towns and cities and reduce the risk of young people being radicalised. This includes delivering wide-ranging education and training programmes to address the issue, training front-line staff to spot signs of radicalisation and undertaking outreach work to engage young people and parents.

“This is not only hugely important but also extremely complex. That is why we need to see further detail on the CONTEST initiative announced today and will be looking to work closely with the government to ensure any new measures are effective. Information sharing could be a positive step but what is crucial is that councils are not treated as a replacement for the expertise and resources of the security services and police. Local authorities are not MI5 and it’s essential that the police and security services lead on responding to and acting on any threats.

“We will continue to engage with government to ensure residents are kept safe and that local authorities can play their role in supporting and protecting communities. While we can all be on the lookout, preventing and protecting us from terrorism is a responsibility that should remain with the police and security services. With councils also facing significant and ongoing funding pressures, local authorities’ work to tackle radicalisation also needs to be properly funded over the long term.”