LOOKBACK
operatives but British citizens. Four young men from Leeds and Huddersfield, radicalised at home, carried out the suicide attacks. This shattered previous assumptions that terrorism came from abroad and marked a clear departure from the threats of the 1990s, such as those posed by the Provisional IRA. Post-7/7, British policing
had to rapidly evolve from an intelligence-led counterterrorism posture focused on external threats to one that recognised the danger within. This prompted a major rethink across all levels of policing, and gave rise to a far more integrated and intelligence-driven approach to domestic extremism.
One of the most significant structural changes to follow 7/7 was the establishment and expansion of Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) within the Metropolitan Police. Combining the former Anti-Terrorist Branch and Special Branch, SO15 was tasked with proactively investigating terrorist threats, managing intelligence, and collaborating with MI5
and other security agencies. But 7/7 made it clear that a London- centric approach would not suffice. As a result, regional Counter Terrorism Units (CTUs) were rolled out across England and Wales—from the North West and North East to the Midlands and South East—linking local policing with national
“For many officers, 7/7 left deep psychological scars. The trauma of what they saw – the injuries, the fear, the human suffering – never fully left them.”
intelligence capabilities. These units allowed for faster identification, monitoring, and disruption of potential threats. The National Counter Terrorism Policing Network, now comprising 11 regional hubs, became a cornerstone of modern UK security. The UK’s CONTEST strategy, which was formally adopted in 2006 but deeply shaped by 7/7, set out four pillars of counter-terrorism policy: Prevent, Pursue, Protect, and Prepare. Each pillar has
heavily involved policing: PREVENT: Working with communities to challenge extremist ideologies and stop people from becoming terrorists. This remains the most controversial pillar and has at times placed officers at the centre of public and political debates over civil liberties and surveillance. PURSUE: Detecting and disrupting terrorist plots, often using covert techniques, surveillance, and intelligence sharing. PROTECT: Improving the security of critical infrastructure, transport hubs, and public spaces,
often through high-visibility patrols and protective security measures. PREPARE: Ensuring that if an attack does occur, the response is rapid and effective—something that 7/7 brutally exposed as a vulnerability at the time.
Policing had to take on new roles in all four pillars, blurring the lines between traditional law enforcement, intelligence work, and community engagement. The chaos of 7/7 revealed critical gaps
42 | POLICE | AUGUST | 2025
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