CONTEST is the UK’s strategy for countering terrorism. It involves many partners working together, including us.
It has four elements:
- Pursue - to stop terrorist attacks through disruption, investigation and detection
- Prepare - where an attack cannot be stopped, to mitigate its impact
- Protect - to strengthen against terrorist attack, including borders and utilities
- Prevent - to stop people becoming terrorists or being drawn towards terrorism
We have specific responsibilities under Prevent and Protect, but we also fit into the wider partnership response for Pursue and Prepare.
What is Protect?
The aim of Protect is to strengthen our protection against a terrorist attack.
The objectives of Protect are:
- reduce the physical risk to people as they go about their lives
- reduce the vulnerability of public venues, transport, and our Critical National Infrastructure
- reduce the ability of terrorists to access and use materials and technology of concern
- identify and manage individuals and goods of terrorist concern through the migration and border system
All the information you need can be found on the Government ProtectUK website. This is a trusted and reliable source of free counter terrorism protective security and preparedness advice, guidance and learning for venues and public spaces across the United Kingdom.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn’s Law, will ensure the public are better protected from terrorism, by requiring certain public premises and events to be prepared and ready to keep people safe in the event of an attack.
Want to learn about good practices to help counter terrorism and increase your security awareness? Use the free ACT Awareness e-Learning course.
For LCC staff ACT Awareness training is mandatory and is available through Linc2Learn.