Specialist Operations

Counter Terrorism Command

London faces a terrorist threat which is truly global in nature.

Post-2000 the MPS world renowned Anti-Terrorist Branch and Special Branch undertook an unprecedented number of counter-terrorist investigations in the UK and abroad.

These investigations, combined with the terrorist attacks in London in July 2005 - which claimed 52 lives - starkly demonstrated the increasingly complex nature of the work carried out by the two specialist branches.

Even before the tragic events of 2005 the MPS had started to review how these commands operated and interacted with one another to deliver a counter-terrorist response.

Following this work it was agreed to create a new bespoke, multi-faceted, single counter-terrorism command - not restricted in design or look by existing structures, with a better capability and capacity to meet ongoing and future threats.

As a result the new Counter Terrorism Command was created. This has taken over the roles and responsibilities of the Anti-Terrorist Branch and Special Branch and was launched on October 2 2006.

The new command brings together intelligence analysis and development with investigations and operational support activity.

It builds on the world-wide renowned expertise and professionalism of the former Anti-Terrorist Branch and Special Branch which for many years have been at the forefront of the MPS counter-terrorism effort.

And as always the overriding priority of the new command is to keep the public safe and do all it can to ensure that London remains a hostile environment for terrorists.

The Counter Terrorism Command provides a full operational capability with teams of officers immediately available to respond to any type of incident or investigation.

It is also known as "SO15", an internal police service designation reflecting the fact that it is one of a number of Specialist Operations branches within the Met.

Counter Terrorism Command is responsible for:

To bring to justice those engaged in terrorist, domestic extremist and related offences
To provide a proactive and reactive response to terrorist, domestic extremist and related offences, including the prevention and disruption of terrorist activity
Support the National Co-ordinator of Terrorist Investigations outside London
To gather and exploit intelligence on terrorism and extremism in London
To assess, analyse and develop intelligence to drive operational activity
To engage in partnership with London's communities in order to understand their concerns and to provide reassurance and support where needed
To provide specialist security advice and services internally and externally
To provide an explosive ordnance disposal and CBRN capability in London
To assist the British Security Service and Secret Intelligence Service in fulfilling their statutory roles
To be the police single point of contact for international partners in counter-terrorism matters
Assisting in the protection of British interests overseas and the investigation of attacks against those interests