UK Office for Security & Counter Terrorism

Future threats and the potential role of the CBRN Action plan in supporting the BTWC

Dr Catherine TerryInternational and Intelligence Coordinator

PROTECT

PROTECT

Terrorist Future Biological Threat

Biological terrorist threats to the UK and the UK response to the risks posed is regularly reviewed and re-assessed

Current terrorist future threat: Access to technology Access to materials Access to capability

EU Action plan Broad actions No limit to threats

Improve the security of dangerous substances that may be targeted or used by terrorists

Provision for future threat: the Act lists the biological pathogens and toxins and

covers both human and animal pathogens and not only the wild-type or ‘intact’ micro-organisms and toxins

BUT also genetic sequences derived from or coding for such substances

Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act (ATCSA) 2001

EU ACTION PLAN

Objectives All-hazard approach to reduce the threat of and damage from

CBRN incidents of accidental, natural or intentional origin, including acts of terrorism

EU needed to pool efforts together since terrorist incidents and accidents do not respect borders

Allows for a combination of regulation and voluntary measures according to Member States preferred approach

Draw upon existing work in other international organisations: greatest CBRN risks stem from proliferation, the most important measures

concern strengthening of non-proliferation regimes Universal, full implementation of relevant treaties and international agreements

EU ACTION PLAN

Aims to increase the effectiveness and speed of information sharing

analytical reporting at all stages

joint planning

the development of operational procedures

operational exercises the cost-effective pooling of existing

resources

EU ACTION PLAN

Comprehensive and ambitious in scopeOpportunity to enhance the capabilities and resilience of

Member States: sharing of best practice, common methodology, enhance security culture and, adequate perception of risk.

124 actions:67 Horizontal actions covering CBRN materials17 Biological specific

ActivitiesPreventionDetectionPrepare and respond

EU Biological Threat List

Establish a list of high risk biological agents and toxins, considering: Potential for malicious use Most dangerous Vulnerability to theft or loss

Methodology Based upon Member states threat assessment Methodology to be assessed

Future threat consideration To be reviewed annually Actions not restricted to the threat list

Prevention actions

Enhance security of high risk materials and facilities

Criteria for assessing security arrangementsDefinition of security responsibilities: operator & state Implementation of procedures “at the lab bench” Registry of facilities

Verify security arrangementsReview requirement for holding material

Good practice for handling materialsNational authorisation or accreditation process with

regulations and standards

Prevention actions

Development of a high security culture of staffGood practice in security training and education

Minimum security training requirements

Training programmes for private security staff

Raise awareness of security issues

Adoption of codes of conduct for those working on bio-issues

Requirements for bio safety officers

Prevention actions

Improve identification and reporting of suspicious transactions and behaviour

Enhance security of transport

Improve information exchangeThreat levels

Loss and theft of material

Detection actions

Develop detection models considering: distribution, vectors, infectious dose and stability

Establish trialling, testing and certification schemes for

CBRN detection in the EU

Develop minimum detection standardsReference materials for bio agents

Good practice for detection, awareness raising and training

Improve information exchangeBackground levelsGood practice exchange on cases and processes

Prepare and Respond Actions

Improve emergency planning

Strengthen countermeasure capacity

Improve domestic and international information flow regarding CBRN incidents

Strengthen decontamination and remediation capability

Improve capacity to conduct criminal investigations

Cross cutting actions

Enhance international cooperation

Improve communication with the public

Improve information tools for CBRN security

Improve training

Strengthen personnel security

Strengthen and prioritise research

Ensure criminalisation of CBRN terrorism

EU Parliament Proposal

Strengthening the action plan

Some MS already had good CBRN capabilities and set up but in other MS, there was have nothing in place at all 

Ensure all MS are addressing prevention, detection and response

Resist pressure from industries to avoid regulation, with regard to dual use materials

Monitor transactions in CBRN materials, and on non-proliferation of these materials (import-export regimes)

stocks of vaccines in case of biological attacks, in line with the size of the threat

greater CBRN coordination between military, law enforcement, health care and civil protection officials

Proposal to regulate and monitor transactions: Consider burdens upon business, in proportion to the

threat.

Not simply promote self-regulation among the industries concerned, and not merely advise the industries to adopt codes of conduct guidelines and regulations applicable to all sectors dealing with

high-risk CBRN agents We have found in the UK self regulation and codes of conduct to

be an effective means of preventing terrorist access to high risk materials

EU regulation of security arrangements and requirements at high-risk CBRN facilities throughout the EU consistent and appropriate security arrangements at such facilities,

in proportion to the threat with consideration of the cost and impact

Future considerations