Extremism is defined as "the vocal or active opposition to [British] fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs". Calls for the death of members of the British Armed Forces are also considered extremist.[1]
'Domestic Extremism'
11. Following the 2017 UK terror attacks,[2] MI5 and CTP conducted an internal review (known as the Operational Improvement Review, or OIR), which was overseen by David Anderson QC (later Lord). As part of the review, Lord Anderson recommended that there should be a common approach for Islamist and non-Islamist terrorism (which includes ERWT), and that the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) should incorporate ERWT into its national threat assessments.[3]
12. The review also found that the terms 'Domestic Extremism' and 'International Counter-Terrorism', which were in use at that time, were "manifestly deficient" for several reasons, primarily because:
- 'Domestic Extremism' had been used to describe everything from proscribed Right-Wing Extremist organisations, such as National Action (which presents a real terrorist concern), to left-wing and 'single-issue' groups (such as animal rights activists), which rarely cause more than occasional public order concerns. The terminology did not, therefore, reflect that the most likely root of any terrorist concern in this category was ERWT.
- The terminology incorrectly implied that Islamist terrorism is always 'international' (even though a significant proportion of perpetrators are entirely 'home-grown') and that ERWT is always 'domestic', despite its clear transnational links. Describing non-Islamist activity as 'extremism' even when it is a threat to national security appeared to imply that it is taken less seriously than Islamist 'terrorism'.
As a result of the OIR, JTAC undertook a review, in the autumn of 2018, of the categories that define terrorism.
13. Following the review it was decided in January 2019 that JTAC would cease using the terms 'international' and 'domestic' to identify different types of terrorism, and the following new definitions would now be used:
- Islamist Terrorism (incorporating Sunni extremist terrorism and state-sponsored Shia terrorism);
- ↑ 2015 UK Counter-Extremism Strategy.
- ↑ During 2017, the United Kingdom suffered five terrorist attacks: Westminster (March), Manchester (May), London Bridge (June), Finsbury Park (June) and Parsons Green (September).
- ↑ The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) is the UK's centre for analysing intelligence on the threat from terrorism, and is responsible for setting the threat level. JTAC is a multi-agency body, with officers from across Whitehall, the military and the intelligence and law enforcement communities. It is based in Thames House (MI5's headquarters), and the head of JTAC reports to the Director General of MI5.
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