The OIR observed that, at the time of publication in 2017, CTP was responsible for assessment of the Domestic Extremism threat, and that MI5 and JTAC were not involved:
The National Strategic Intelligence Team, situated in CTPHQ [CTP Headquarters] produces a yearly Strategic Assessment, from which DE Policing Priorities are drawn: Domestic Extremist Potential Lone Actors (PLAS) and National Action (a proscribed organisation designated as meeting the threshold of a terrorist organisation by the Home Secretary) feature in the top Tier of these priorities. Language, structure and content differ from ICT [International Counter-Terrorism, now known as Islamist terrorism] threat assessments and there is no consistency in the assessment process adopted.[1]
187. The OIR recommended that there should be an equivalence of processes in the assessment of terrorist threats—whether these emanated from Islamist extremism or from (what was then termed) Domestic Extremism. It was also quite specific that JTAC should play a role in the production of threat assessments.
Operational Improvement Review (OIR): Domestic Extremism[2]
- There should be equivalence of processes in the assessment of terrorist threats whether they flow from Islamist extremism or from other threats currently managed by CTP under Domestic Extremism structures.
- JTAC should be responsible for the production of national Threat Assessments of terrorist threats arising from Domestic Extremism work, employing common language, methodology and approach to that already used for Islamist extremist threats. A plan should be developed to put in place the necessary resource and processes to support this.
- CTP and MI5 should agree a formal process for greater MI5 involvement and visibility on the assessment of potential high-threat Domestic Extremism leads and investigations, as well as structure to enable decisions to be made on primacy for the highest level of Domestic Extremism investigations, where there is a potential terrorist threat.
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