Terror threat level system

[TRUTH]

A system that will warn the public about the threat of a terrorist attack is to be announced by the government.

For the first time, details of current threat levels will be published on the websites of the Home Office and MI5.

The warning system, to be revealed by Home Secretary John Reid, will form part of the government's counter-terrorist strategy.

It will also include information on what kind of actions people should take in response to the threat.

The system will show five different threat levels, but they will not be colour coded as they are in the US - where alerts range from green to red.

It will also simplify the current seven-tier system, which is not published in the public domain.

The announcement comes after the cross-party Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) called for a more transparent warning system in the UK in a report on the 7 July London bombings.

The committee highlighted that the threat level had been reduced from "severe general" to "substantial" prior to the London attacks.

Its report claimed the current system had provided "inappropriate reassurance" to the public in the absence of intelligence about a plot.

The report, published in May, said the system should be changed to recognise the limitations of intelligence gathering and "that attacks may be at the planning stage without being detected".

A Home Office spokesman said the aim of the new system was "to bring clarity to both security practitioners and the general public without causing alarm".

The announcement will coincide with two separate government documents on terrorism.

A wide-ranging summary of the government's long-term strategy, code-named Contest will be published by Mr Reid, which aims to prevent terrorism and prepare for their event.

The Department for Communities and Local Government will also publish a document on preventing extremism.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5163938.stm

[Garcon Warrior]

I also hear that they intend to put the terrorist threat levels at bus stops and tube stations. The powers that be are really pushing home now the fact we are permanetly under attack. With the level of the intelligence they have gathered on WMD and Forest Gate raid I will make sure I check the terrorist threat everyday aswell as where the Yeti is the Loch Ness monster and the fairies at the bottom of the garden.

[flamesong]

Given that the concept of terrorism is a means of intimidating or coercing for ideological or political reasons (anybody who has studied bullying will tell you that no actual violence is necessary) and that raising our 'level of awarenes' can only peak at a point where the masses are terrified into submission, ostensibly for their own good, this is a devious means of terrifying us for our own protection.

Other than to monitor levels for analyisis alongside political events and any future 'terrorism', taking any notice of this would serve no purpose other than to mess with your head.

In the words of Ray Stevens, 'Don't look, Ethel!'

[DeFecToR]

Thats a shame about it not being colour coded. They could have got Trinny and Susanna in for it. What do you think? A tartan level of danger? Shine of autumn gold? Muslim brown?
Seriously though. I shouldnt take the piss. I'm actually a big promoter of the threat warning system. I just dont think it goes far enough. I want a big siren and strobe light on top of my tv. Keep me on my toes. Maybe just a giant face in the sky, crying with fear, and the volume of tears equates to how many of your neighbours need to be snitched on.
Seriously, WE'RE AT WAR HERE! Lets do this properly!

[Newspeak International]

[DeFecToR]

Oh absolutely! Anything brown really. People, dogs, colours...

[hampton]

THEY'RE LOOSING CONTROL!

when it's so in your face, it's even easier to point out the elephant in the living room.

how about t-shirts, flyers with our own version of the threat level?

i don't know if you remember the gov sent every home a booklet of how to cope with a terror attack and they shut down a copycat comedy website.

they are the terrorists, but the public aren't scared enough.

id cards on back burner coz people don't want them.

police forces can't merge coz the police are waking up.

speak to the police, lots of them know what's going on.