Terrorism
Emergency planning has suffered under budget cuts - mandarin
‘Drastic cuts’ to council budgets have contributed to a lack of resources for emergency planning, a civil servant has warned.
Council denies ‘litany of failures’ in Shamima Begum case
Tower Hamlets LBC has denied claims it was responsible for a ‘litany of failures’ leading up to teenager Shamima Begum's decision to join Daesh.
Controversial Prevent strategy to be reviewed
An independent review of the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme will take place, ministers have announced.
Tackling the threat of terror together
Mark Conrad recently attended Prevent Strategy Channel Panel training and witnessed the wide range of dilemmas facing frontline staff tackling radicalisation and terror threats.
Local input key to new-look counter terrorism strategies
Putting councils at the centre of counter-terror strategies could allay community fears they are a front for state surveillance, experts have told The MJ.
Javid to give councils access to intelligence files
Councils will be given access to a more intelligence and police files under Home Office plans to reform the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy and share responsibility for tackling radicalisation.
Kerslake review praises council response to Manchester bomb attack
Local government’s response to the Manchester Arena bombing was ‘by any measure exceptional’, but key mistakes must be avoided in future, an official review has found.
Accept you can be challenged, public bodies told
Public bodies in Greater Manchester should be more open to being scrutinised in the aftermath of last year's terrorist attack, a report led by Lord Kerslake has urged.
Government too focused on Prevent
The Government is too focused on the Prevent programme instead of on developing an integration strategy, according to Dame Louise Casey.
Share intelligence with local authorities, MI5 told
MI5 should share relevant intelligence with local authorities and other partners, the home secretary has said.
Ben Page: Housing top concern for Londoners
Housing is the most pressing concern for people in London, the chief executive of Ipsos MORI has said.
Councils count costs of terrorism
Councils have highlighted the financial cost of terror attacks amid complaints the Government is failing to support affected areas.
Mayors call for end to police cuts
Mayors Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan have called on chancellor Philip Hammond to end cuts to police or face an escalation in terrorist attacks and other crime across England and Wales.
Transparency, good record-keeping essential in emergencies
Transparent decision-making and good record-keeping are essential in times of crises, a local government specialist at law firm Bevan Brittan has advised councils.
Our Manchester is my great challenge
After an emotional six-month spell at the helm of Manchester City Council, Joanne Roney talks to Heather Jameson about the plans for the city going forward, the importance of community and the rebuilding work that continues to be done in many social areas.
Security guidance updated for councils in wake of terror attacks
Local authorities must ensure the security of public spaces near stations, the Department for Transport has stressed in a new report.
Prevent strategy ‘in need of reform’
The Home Office’s Prevent strategy, aimed at stopping terrorism, is effective at local level but ‘requires reform’ and ‘needs to be better explained,’ experts have told The MJ.
Senior policeman defends Prevent
One of Britain’s most senior police officers has leapt to the defence of the much-criticised Prevent programme set up to stop people being drawn into terrorism.
Town hall terror warning
Inconsistency in how safeguarding concerns relating to extremism are recorded is hampering councils’ ability to tackle the threat, a damning review has concluded.
Gwynne: Stop talking down councils and councillors
Local authorities need to be given back decision-making powers, the shadow communities secretary has said.