UK on Terrorism
Contrary to popular opinion, the problem on terrorism has long been an issue for many countries even before 9/11. Various factions have developed throughout the years hoping to push for their agendas even through the use of terror and violence. Although there were small factions that posed little threat and covered only a small minority, there are groups that were labeled security threats for both their influence and the gravity of their operations. In the case of the United Kingdom, the issue terrorism brings has enmeshed itself within the country and challenges how the government fights its threat. Many terrorists tend to flock to Britain due to the fact they are tolerated by the government to some degree and the country is not a direct target of their activism, leading to the country to reprogram its terrorism laws to ensure that jihadists and those they indoctrinate do not leave the country or commit terrorism.
Throughout its history, the United Kingdom has accumulated many rivals and emenies wishing for the country to fall apart. For terrorists, however, Burke (2015) stated that terrorists flocked the country because it wasn’t really their target. Although it is true that the country is an ally of the United States, militants were free to push for their advocacies in the country and there were even British citizens who joined their cause in several instances. Corera (2015) also stated that terrorists found it easier to work in several UK areas due to their extensive use of social media. There were even instances wherein these terrorists or extremist groups use forums like universities and prisons to extend their influence . The authorities were also quite bewildered when it comes to fighting against the terrorist attacks and how serious these terrorists’ threats possess until after 7/7 bombings, allowing terrorist to extend their operations without problems .
As a reponse to the threat of terrorism, the British government had slowly reformed many of its terrorism laws. According to Feikert and Doyle (2006), the UK extended the authority of the police to stop anyone suspected of terrorism through the Terrorism Act 2000. This act is also supported by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act of 2000 to improve how the police would investigate the crime . The government has also recently enforced the Terror Prevention and Investigation Measure (Tpim) to ensure that citizens do not travel in or out of the country if they are proven to have ties with terrorists. According to Morris (2015), the Tpim would also call on to public agencies and institutions to ensure that the public would also be prevented from supporting terrorism .
Britain’s problem in terrorism is a proof that there is a necessity for the government to prevent its growth and stop possible interest from being accumulated from the public. Although terrorists have not actively attacked the country prior 9/11, they were able to grow and eventually gotten many British citizens to support their cause. The government even had difficulties clamping down this threat because they were not able to the power of these terrorists. However, when it became clear that these terrorists have managed to raise significant support from the people and cause most of them to fly out to join the terrorist movement, the government had immediately ensured that they could target these terrorists from the core. If the British government wishes to curtail these terrorists from spreading fear in the country, they must make the environment stable to prevent citizens to support such beliefs.
References
Burke, J. (2015, July 7). From 7/7 to Isis: how the terrorist threat to the UK has evolved.
Retrieved July 13, 2015, from The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/06/7-7-bombings-isis-terrorist-threat-uk-evolved
Corera, G. (2015, March 26). MPs warn on growing numbers of British jihadists.
Retrieved July 12, 2015, from BBC News: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-32059813
Feikert, C., & Doyle, C. (2006). Anti-Terrorism Authority Under the Laws of the United
Kingdom and the United States. Washington, D.C.: US Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service.
Morris, N. (2015, March 10). New laws to stop jihadists and 'jihadi brides' leaving UK
rushed through House. Retrieved July 13, 2015, from The Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/new-laws-to-stop-jihadists-and-jihadi-brides-leaving-uk-rushed-through-house-10099192.html
