The Home Secretary has today published my report (submitted to her on 2 November) into the nine internal reviews by MI5 and Counter-Terrorism Police of their handling of intelligence prior to this year’s terrorist attacks at Westminster, Manchester Arena, London Bridge and Finsbury Park. I am grateful to the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office and to ASIO for facilitating my task of independent assurance.
See the Report, accompanying press release and my background post.
Broadcast coverage included these segments from ITV News and Channel 4 News, and a 6-minute interview aired on BBC Radio 4’s PM programme (7-13 min).
The report was also covered elsewhere: see The Guardian, The New York Times , the BBC website and an editorial in The Times of London (£). The Sun picked up remarks made at my press conference about the role of big tech companies in making available terrorist know-how and propaganda.
The Home Secretary has asked me to report to her in 12 months’ time on the implementation by MI5 and CT Policing of the 126 recommendations in their internal reviews.
I published some reflections on recent developments in UK intelligence oversight in the Lawfare blog on 2 January 2018, and recorded a podcast on similar themes a few days later.
