The United Kingdom has had a long-term strategy for countering international terrorism, known as CONTEST, since 2003. Its aim is to reduce the risk to the UK from international terrorism, so that people can go about their daily lives freely and with confidence.

Who is involved?
CONTEST is delivered working with stakeholders who include a range of government departments, emergency services, voluntary organisations, business sector and partners from across the world.

The strategy is divided into four principal strands called the ‘Four Ps’: Prevent, Pursue, Protect and Prepare.

PREVENT aims to tackle the root causes of radicalization of individuals, both in the UK and elsewhere, which sustains the international terrorist threat. The government seeks to do this by:

• Tackling disadvantage and supporting reform by addressing structural problems in the UK and overseas that may contribute to radicalization, such as inequalities and discrimination.
• Deterring those who facilitate terrorism and encourage others to become terrorists by changing the environment in which the extremists and others operate.
• Engaging in the battle of ideas by challenging the ideologies that extremists believe can justify the use of violence.

PURSUE aims to reduce the terrorist threat to the UK and to UK interests overseas by disrupting terrorists and their operations. This covers a range of issues including:

• Gathering intelligence and improving our ability to identify and understand the terrorist threat.
• Disrupting terrorist activity and taking action to frustrate terrorist attacks and bring to justice through prosecution and other means, including strengthening the legal framework against terrorism.
• Cooperating with international partners and allies overseas to strengthen our intelligence effort and achieve disruption of terrorists outside the UK

PROTECT looks to reduce the vulnerability of the UK and UK interests overseas to a terrorist attack. This covers a range of issues including:

• Strengthening border security to prevent terrorists and those who inspire them from traveling to the UK.
• Protecting key utilities by working with the private sector.
• Reducing the risk and impact of attacks on transport through security and technological advances.
• Protecting people in crowded places going about their daily lives

PREPARE aims to ensure that the UK is as ready as it can be for the consequences of a terrorist attack. The key elements are:

• Identifying the potential risks the UK faces from terrorism and assessing their impact.
• Building the necessary capabilities to respond to attacks.
• Evaluating and testing preparedness, including through identifying lessons from exercises and real-life events.