Homeland Security Group

Homeland Security Group (previously named Office for Security and Counter Terrorism) is an executive directorate of the UK government Home Office, created in 2007,[1] responsible for leading the work on counter-terrorism in the UK, working closely with the police and security services. The office reports to the Home Secretary, and to the Minister of State for Security. Its current Director General is Chloe Squires,[2] who is the senior government official responsible for counter-terrorist and organised crime strategy.[3]

Responsibilities

According to its website, the current responsibilities of the Homeland Security Group (HSG) are:[4]

• Exercising the UK's response to a terrorist incident
• Developing legislation on terrorism here and overseas
• Providing security measures and protection packages for public figures
• Ensuring that the UK's critical national infrastructure is protected from attack (including electronic attack)
• Ensuring the UK is prepared to deal with a chemical, biological, or nuclear release
• Liaising with government and emergency services during terrorist incidents or counter-terrorism operations

In May 2014, the Director General of HSG made a witness statement on behalf of the government and the three main intelligence agencies for the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, in a legal case brought by advocacy groups including Privacy International, Liberty and Amnesty International, explaining the legal basis for the interception of electronic communications under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.[3][5] This was characterised in the media as an explanation of how the security services can legally monitor "Facebook, Google and Twitter" usage by UK citizens.[6][7][8]

HSG has a total staff of 1,061 as of 31st March 2021[9]

Programmes

Main article: CONTEST

The Preventing Violent Extremism strategy (Prevent),[10] is a £140 million^[clarification needed] programme run by HSG.

In 2013, HSG stated that 500 people had gone through its Channel deradicalisation programme, including some considering participating in the Syrian civil war, steering some away from violent extremism.[11]

See also

• Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001#Part 11 (Retention of communications data)
• British intelligence agencies
• Communications Data Bill 2008
• Data retention
• Internet censorship in the United Kingdom
• Mastering the Internet
• Patriot Act
• PRISM (surveillance program)
• Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
• Telecommunications data retention#United Kingdom

References

1. Mark Townsend (8 June 2014). "Infighting between ministers goes back to 7 July London attacks". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
2. "Chloe Squires - GOV.UK". GOV.UK. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
3. Charles Balndford Farr (16 May 2014). "Witness: Charles Farr, Statement number 1 (to Investigatory Powers Tribunal)" (PDF). Privacy International. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 June 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
4. "Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism - About us". Home Office. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007.
5. Sam Jones and Robert Cookson (17 June 2014). "UK has power to monitor citizens on social media, says counter-terrorism chief". Financial Times. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
6. "Google and Facebook can be legally intercepted, says UK spy boss". BBC. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
7. Rhiannon Williams (17 June 2014). "GCHQ sanctions spying on every Facebook, Google and Twitter user". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
8. Owen Bowcott (17 June 2014). "Social media mass surveillance is permitted by law, says top UK official". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
9. Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament "Annual Report 2021–2022"
10. "Protecting the UK against terrorism - Prevent". gov.uk. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
11. "500 terror suspects 'deradicalised' by Home Office". BBC. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2014.

External links

• Policy - Protecting the UK against terrorism, gov.uk, 26 March 2013
• Local Government Association Preventing Violent Extremism Conference, Office for Security & Counter Terrorism, Charles Farr