UK Threat Levels

The UK Threat Levels are the alert states that have been in use since 1 August 2006 by the British government to warn of forms of terrorist activity. Before then a colour-based alert scheme known as BIKINI state was used.^[1] The response indicates how government departments and agencies and their staffs should react to each threat level.

Current threat level

The threat level is currently Severe, which was upgraded from Substantial on 29 August 2014.^[2]

Categories of threat

Since 24 September 2010, the Home Office has reported three different categories of terrorist threat:^[3][4]

• Threat from international terrorism.
• Terrorism threat related to Northern Ireland in Northern Ireland itself.
• Terrorism threat related to Northern Ireland in Great Britain.

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) is responsible for setting the threat level from international terrorism and the Security Service (MI5) is responsible for setting both threat levels related to Northern Ireland.^[5]

Threat levels

Threat level		Response
Critical	An attack is expected imminently.	EXCEPTIONAL	Maximum protective security measures to meet specific threats and to minimise vulnerability and risk. Critical may also be used if a nuclear attack is expected.
Severe	An attack is highly likely.	HEIGHTENED	Additional and sustainable protective security measures reflecting the broad nature of the threat combined with specific business and geographical vulnerabilities and judgements on acceptable risk.
Substantial	An attack is a strong possibility.
Moderate	An attack is possible, but not likely.	NORMAL	Routine protective security measures appropriate to the business concerned.
Low	An attack is unlikely.

History

UK Threat Level history

The Security Service (MI5) currently maintains a history of threat levels on the services website.

Date	Threat level
1 August 2006	Severe
10 August 2006	Critical
13 August 2006	Severe
30 June 2007	Critical
4 July 2007	Severe
20 July 2009	Substantial
22 January 2010	Severe

Date	International terrorism	Northern Ireland related terrorism
24 September 2010	Severe	GB: substantial. NI: severe
11 July 2011	Substantial	GB: substantial. NI: severe
24 October 2012	Substantial	GB: moderate. NI: severe
29 August 2014 – present	Severe	GB: moderate. NI: severe

See also

• Terrorism in the United Kingdom
• DEFCON — American equivalent to UK Threat Levels

References

1. Threat Levels, July 2006
2. "Threat Levels". Retrieved 29 August 2014.
3. "Irish terror attack a 'strong possibility'". BBC News. 2010-09-25. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
4. "Press Release: Increased risk of Irish-related terrorism". United Kingdom Home Office. 2010-09-24. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
5. "Current threat level - Who decides the threat levels?". United Kingdom Home Office. Retrieved 2010-12-20.

External links

• Current Threat Level, Home Office
• Threat Levels history from 1 August 2006, MI5