Policing Terrorism: Theoretical, Ethical, and Policy Considerations

This report provides a comprehensive overview of policing terrorism, encompassing various theoretical perspectives, ethical considerations, and policy implications. It explores the evolution of terrorism, its impact on societies, and the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies. The report delves into key issues such as the definition of terrorism, the role of police officers, community experiences, and the impact of government policies. It analyzes the ethical dilemmas involved in counter-terrorism efforts, including transparency, data sharing, and the balance between security and civil liberties. The report also examines specific policies and strategies adopted by the UK government, including the Terrorism Act 2006 and the CONTEST strategy. Furthermore, it assesses the governance aspects of counter-terrorism, highlighting issues of trust, accountability, and the need for effective monitoring and regulation to prevent terrorism and ensure community safety. The report concludes by discussing the importance of balancing security measures with the protection of human rights and promoting community engagement to address the multifaceted challenges posed by terrorism.

Policing Terrorism
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Theoretical perspective and issues...............................................................................................3
Principles and ethical issues.........................................................................................................3
Experience of police officers convicted criminals communities.................................................3
Policy strategic perspective and imperatives...............................................................................3
Governance perspective and issues..............................................................................................3
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5
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INTRODUCTION
In recent times, terrorism has increased to a great extent. It has expanded into many countries
and highly affecting in lives of people. For nation it has become difficult to stop it as many
individuals are being influenced by those leader of various terrorist groups. They are been
manipulated by leader to join terrorism and do jihad in name of Islam. Alongside, the policies are
formed regarding terrorism. It has helped in defiining perspective of people and society. (Deflem
and Chicoine, 2018) in present times radical terrorism and Islam are connected and linked
together. It is resulting in generating of various theories and concepts related to terrorism.
The report will lay emphasis on policing terrorism and finding out theoretical perspective and
issues. Also, it will define principles and ethical issues related to it. Besides, experience of police
officer in convicted criminal is explained. Moreover, policy strategic perspective and imperative
will be described and governance issues.
Theoretical perspective and issues
According to Blakemore, 2016 every nation is having a similar perspective on terrorism.
It state that the act of terror is just to kill people in name of jihad. The major terror attack world
observed was on 11 September 2001 in US. So, after that attack each country decided to form
policy for it. Also, it changed the perspective of all people and society. However, it led to make
things easy as on view of culture there was change in things. In UK many people started
involving in terror. They believed in radicalism and violent Islamism. However, there are some
theories on basis of which terrorism is seen. It differs within society and has influenced mind of
people. Now, in Islam terrorism is viewed as violence against other people. But many people
view it as jihad. In their perception this is required to protect and save religion. But in other
religions terrorism is related to islam. Here, perception is completely different. All people
belonging to that religion are viewed as terrorist. This has to be change in mind of people.
Another theory which can be applied is psychological one in which it depends on behavior of
people that how they react and behave with social elements. So, it depends on psychological
factor of society that how people are able to relate terrorism with their social norms and ethics.
This means when things is changed then it change opinion of other people.
So, in opinion of Den Boer, 2019) there are some issues which has occurred in it. Due to change
in theory and perception people are not able to find out definition of terrorism. This has led to
inter personal issues. Besides this, government is not able to analyse that what is right and wrong
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in law and how to distinguish islam from terrorism. It has influenced mind of people and creatrd
issue among them. There is also issues between countries regarding terrorism. It is considered as
change in way of dealing and preventing it. Also, it is evaluated that perception of people is same
of it. So, issue is faced as many young people in Islam are getting involved in terrorism. They are
being influenced by leader so it is difficult to change their perception on it. It has been led to
increase in people who are not able to understand the real meaning of jihad in Islam. This is
because from their point of view theory of terrorism is different. Likewise, UK government is
facing issue of policing terrorism. It is because they have to analyse from all theoretical
perspective. So, it is difficult to do so. As on basis of it policy and law are not formed. The
radical Islam is considered here which gives different meaning of it. For some community
supporting people in this is a criminal activity. They need to be consider equivalent to terrorism
even when nothing is being done.
Principles and ethical issues
As per In Mogire, Mkutu and Alusa, 2017 policing terrorism there are some principles And
ethics are followed. This assist in making things easy and providing description and info what
principles is to be followed. Besides, ethics is related to social norms and practices. But there
occurred several principles and ethical issues which are related to how things has to be done. The
issue was to lay out definition of terrorism and to what perspective it has to be viewed. Due to it,
UK government was not able to develop policy on how to prevent it. Another issue was of
transparency of data and info the government did not share data of people who were suspect in
some cases of terrorism. They may believe that police offer protection a littel so it is less likely
that they will call police when anything happens. Other than this, many individuals has been
converted from violent Islamic group to Islam. They are those people who are minority in UK.
Hence, there is rise in trust and confidence in police.
There were some council which was formed by government to ensure working with them but it
was identified that they did not play their responsibility in proper way. They were not
accountable for roles assigned to them. Instead of working with government agencies they
followed some other procedure. Furthermore, there were conflict between some agencies as well.
It arise because when individual data was obtained thus agency did not investigate properly.
There were no protocol followed in it. Some issues is arising in principle where of making
things easy. It has evaluated that principles of identifying people and linking it with activity.
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Experience of police officers convicted criminals communities
In the view of (Monaghan and Molnar, 2016 police play an important role in stoping terrorism
within society. This is because they identify and get involved with those people and criminal.
With help of it, they are able to determine activity of them. Furthermore, there are many issues
which is faced by police officer in dealing with convicted criminal. Along with it, they face issue
from community, citizen and other people. There are certain policy followed on basis of which it
is determined terrorism. It is said that experience of police officer in several cases is very bad.
When they arrest anyone who is engaged in terrorist activities criminal usually start firing at
them. They have to seal entire area. Also, in order to find out connection of criminal with other
people, police officer needs thorough investigation. They have to deal with criminal strictly. On
contrary, sometimes officer have to find out link between criminal and terrorism. So, there is a
lot of pressure on them. And if link is not found out then they have to deal from society. This
leds to protest against officer and taking of legal action.
Besides that, community experience regarding terrorism is also bad. They have to face criticism
from other people. Basically, in UK Islamic community has to facr it. The people perspective
change and those who are Muslim are seen as terrorist. It has been analysed that those criminal
who have helped in terrorism are viewed as terrorist. They society does not accept them. Now,
citizen experience in UK is highly impacted after London attack. They started protesting against
islamic people and government has to take strict measure to prevent terrorism. The confidence of
police was increased as well due to rise in tbeir power. They were able to stop and conduct
search of person in UK. But Pakistan and Bangladesh group people trust was not in police as
they think themselves as victim as radically motivated crimes rather than group categorized as
black. They also said that many times black people does not take help of them and are found in
more trouble. Then, after investigating it is observed that they are engaged in terrorist activities
which they are not aware of. Hence, in such cases it becomes difficult for officer as well to
identify who are in trouble and not. There are some cases found in citizen as well. They help
black people who are Muslim and don’t know about them. But after some time they too are
involved in criminal activity.
Policy strategic perspective and imperatives
Aa stated by ( Mueller, and Stewart, 2016 after attack in London there was certain policy and
law formed in regard to prevent terrorism. The process was known as policing terrorism. It
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enabled in providing insight and rules of how to deal with this issue and prevent terrorism.
Alongside, from policy there is different perspective of terrorism. In this it was mentioned that
there when a person is engaged in terror activity then he or she will be declared as terrorist. An
initiative of preventing extremist together was launched. The purpose was to communicate with
British Muslim and develop mosque and adisory board. The PM engaged with Muslim council of
British to improve relationship. Also, a terrorism act 2006 was formed which include many
things as result of counter policing terrorism. Under this act it gave more power to UK police to
search for prospects. Moreover, many section were imposed in it.
As elucidated by ( Murphy, Madon and Cherney, 2018 there was a great positive impact of this
legislation in preventing terrorism. It allowed police to maintain law and order. The section 44
was useful in preventing anyone to become terrorist. Apart from it, policr stopped and search
was conducted in most areas of UK. This enabled in gathering of info of people and finding out
in what activities they are engaged. So, it highly benefited UK in it. In counter terrorism policy
government started Contest which constitute operational response to threat of terrorism. It
included 4 elements in it that were to protect from, pursue, prepare for and prevent terrorism. In
this companies were also involved in it. Contest supported Islamic nation to give them human
rights.
In study of Wood and Gardiner, 2019( it is stated that there are certain imperative which is
imposed in context of policing terrorism. The major step taken is to ban all terrorist groups.
Moreover, UK government started creating as strong relations with Islamic council. This enabled
in helping in finding out whether people are involved in any terror activity or not. Through it,
data was collected and according measure and action was taken. Besides this, police immediately
begin investigation and started searching for people. The policy was formed to stop and search
people. With help of if UK government has successful in preventing terrorism. It has allowed in
taking quick action in case of any suspect activity. Alongside, there is proper procedure followed
in investigating and obtaining useful info. This is then shared with agency and reported to
government. By giving police the power quick action and decision are taken. It helps in
preventing further damage done due to terrorism to people. The links are identified that who all
are involved in it and which terror group terrorist belong to. In this way prevention is done with
help of effective policy.
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Governance perspective and issues
As said by ) Silvestri, 2019 it is important for government to monitor and regulate policy which
is formed to prevent terrorism. This allows in taking of action and measures in fighting and
preventing terrorism. In counter terrorism policing, there were some issues which was faced. As
police was having right to stop and search people it led to decrease in trust in police by certain
groups of Pakistan and Bangladesh pepe. They may believe that police offer protection a littel so
it is less likely that they will call police when anything happens. Other than this, many
individuals has been converted from violent Islamic group to Islam. They are those people who
are minority in UK. Hence, there is rise in trust and confidence in police. Furthermore, another
issue is that people of UK is not confident that police will protect them from terrorism. The
people think that police do not do good job. They are Not playing their role in effective way. All
ethnic groups are having low confidence and trust among police.
A lack of volunteered intelligence, in conjunction with the ostensible realisation that increasing
numbers of individuals were becoming radicalised into violent Islamism, has prompted a greater
emphasis on the potential of low community policing-styles as a panacea for increased police
legitimacy, improved community relations, and ultimately to garner more useful intelligence for
the long-term prevention of terrorism. Only time will tell whether this will be effective of not,
but it is important to note that the police have traditionally found it problematic to generate
cooperation and voluntary intelligence from particular UK communities although this may be
partly a result of morally inappropriate practices by the authorities in those communities may
thus be countered through changing particular police practices and increasing police legitimacy.
Hence, the issues are leading to prevent terrorism and not taking stand of people for one
perspective. There are to be change in things on how policy is to be formed by taking in
consideration of all ethics and norms of society. With help of it, they are able to determine
activity of them. Furthermore, there are many issues which is faced by police officer in dealing
with convicted criminal. Along with it, they face issue from community, citizen and other
people. There are certain policy followed on basis of which it is determined terrorism
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Case study
It has been evaluated by Wood and Gardiner, 2019( that there are many examples of policing
terrorism which is followed by other countries. In US after attack of 9/11 a legislation was
passed in which strict action and measures were taken. Here, emphasis was on Islamic
community who lives in US. The state was given power to conduct a major search in all areas
where muslim lives. Their identity was checked. Besides, no outside Muslim was given
citizenship. In addition, UK also took some steps in this matter. They formed a legislation and
gave power to police. It enabled in doing search of person. Moreover, a campaign was initiated
and policy named as contest was made. It enabled in preventing terrorism and enforcing of
policy and law in UK. They were able to define way and take appropriate measures for it. With
this it has become easy to find out issues in policing terrorism and then forming of laws and
policies of how to prevent it. In similar way, India has formed a policy in order to prevent
terrorism. This is done after attack on Mumbai. Now, agency share data and info with one
another and work together to prevent terrorism. There are major operations done in various state
to find out people who are engaged in terrorist activities. An in depth investigation is done on
individual and action is taken.
CONCLUSION
From above it is summarized that policing terrorism refers to engage in practices, forming of
policy etc to prevent terrorism. In UK counter terrorism policing is developed which consist of 4
elements such as protect, prepare, prevent and pursue. Moreover, section 44 gives power to
police to stop and search. However, there are some issues as well occurred in it that is decrease
in trust and confidence of ethnic groups in police. Also, many nations has forned policy for it
like US, UK etc to prevent from terrorism. They may believe that police offer protection a littel
so it is less likely that they will call police when anything happens. many individuals has been
converted from violent Islamic group to Islam. They are those people who are minority in UK.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Blakemore, B., 2016. Policing cyber hate, cyber threats and cyber terrorism. Routledge.
Deflem, M. and Chicoine, S., 2018. Policing Terrorism. The Handbook of Social Control,
pp.235-248.
Den Boer, M., 2019. Policing and prosecuting transnational terrorism: a comparative European
perspective. In Research Handbook on Transnational Crime. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Jensen, R.B., 2017. The Secret Agent, International Policing, and Anarchist Terrorism: 1900–
1914. Terrorism and political violence, 29(4), pp.735-771.
Mogire, E., Mkutu, K. and Alusa, D., 2017. Policing Terrorism in Kenya. Security Governance
in East Africa: Pictures of Policing from the Ground, 79.
Monaghan, J. and Molnar, A., 2016. Radicalisation theories, policing practices, and “the future
of terrorism?”. Critical studies on terrorism, 9(3), pp.393-413.
Mueller, J.E. and Stewart, M.G., 2016. Chasing ghosts: The policing of terrorism. Oxford
University Press.
Murphy, K., Madon, N.S. and Cherney, A., 2018. Reporting threats of terrorism: stigmatisation,
procedural justice and policing Muslims in Australia. Policing and Society, pp.1-17.
Pelzer, R., 2018. Policing of terrorism using data from social media. European Journal for
Security Research, 3(2), pp.163-179.
Silvestri, M., 2019. Policing ‘Bengali Terrorism’in India and the World: Imperial Intelligence
and Revolutionary Nationalism, 1905-1939. Springer.
Wood, S. and Gardiner, S., 2019. Policing UK Airports and Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act
2000: The Young Passengers’ Perception of Security Measures. Terrorism and Political
Violence, pp.1-22.
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