Home Secretary To Set Out New Measures To Stop Terror Attacks

A new counter-terror strategy is being unveiled by the Government amid fears that plots are being planned faster.

In his first major address since being appointed Home Secretary, Sajid Javid will outline plans for greater sharing of information about people who the Security Services think have links to terrorism.

The move reflects concern over a sharp reduction in the timeframe between the conception and execution of terror plots as attackers are radicalised to the point of violence within days or weeks.

Mr Javid will also announce details of the Government's latest counter-terror strategy, known as Contest.

The exercise was launched across government, intelligence agencies and policing to identify new measures to stop atrocities after five attacks hit the UK in less than six months.

In a significant shift, MI5 will share its intelligence more widely and work with partners such as local authorities on how best to manage the risk posed by subjects of interest.

Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Mr Javid said it was devised to ensure there is a "much higher chance" of detecting and disrupting plots at an early stage.

The Home Secretary denied the change would mean headteachers or local government officials being used as additional security agents, pointing to existing commitments to boost counter-terror police funding and recruit nearly 2,000 staff at MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.

Security Services expect the threat from Islamist terror to remain at its current heightened level for at least another two years, while they assess the risk from extreme right-wing terrorism as increasing.

Since March last year they say 16 attack plots have been foiled.