Counter Terrorism Policing

Counter Terrorism Policing is the United Kingdom's national police network for terrorism and hostile-state cases. It brings together the 43 police forces of England and Wales and works with Police Scotland, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, MI5 and other partners. Its national headquarters sets policy and coordinates programmes across the network.

Regional counter-terrorism units carry out investigations, intelligence work, forensics and protective-security tasks. The network delivers policing's part of the government's CONTEST strategy and can investigate suspected hostile-state activity under the National Security Act. Counter Terrorism Policing is a coordinating network rather than a separate territorial police force, so arrests and searches are conducted through the relevant police powers and units. An arrest records suspicion at an investigative stage. It does not establish that a person committed an offence, and a charge or conviction must be reported separately if either occurs.