Counter Terrorism Policing

With the ongoing terrorist threat, there has never been a more important time to be working alongside some of the best and brightest to help keep people safe from terrorism. 

A career in Counter Terrorism Policing (CT Policing) is like no other. Every day offers a variety of exciting challenges and exceptional opportunities played out on a regional, national and international stage. 

With a range of roles spanning the UK, you won’t always need a background in security to play a part in keeping the UK safe. There may be CT opportunities within your current police force as well.

CT Policing is always working to build upon its diverse workforce to reflect the country we serve, so you’ll enjoy a varied and fulfilling working environment. With a variety of training and development opportunities, you’ll find a range of exciting career pathways waiting for you. 

The CT network focuses on four key areas: 

• Prevent – stopping vulnerable people from being drawn into extremism.
• Prepare – preparing to respond to terrorist attacks and reducing the impact they have.
• Protect – protecting the public and places from terrorist attacks.
• Pursue – tracking and apprehending terrorists and helping to bring them to justice. 

As you’d expect, this involves many varied and exciting roles and responsibilities within Counter Terrorism Policing. For example:  

• Officers work with local authority partners and community organisations to support and protect vulnerable people. 
• Specialist officers work with businesses to help them protect their buildings, staff and customers, as well as ensuring that they’re as prepared as they can be if an attack happens, so that the impact is minimised.
• CT detectives are involved in some of the most high profile investigations in policing, ranging from investigating lone individuals planning an attack to large scale, sophisticated international plots. 
• Officers stationed across the world liaise with our international partners to help protect the UK’s interests and citizens overseas, share vital intelligence, protect our borders and support CT investigations. 
• Within the network, there are officers who specialise in combatting chemical incidents, firearms incidents, terrorists using vehicles as weapons, radicalisation of the vulnerable – the list is endless and those who work within it are considered by many to be the best in the world.
• CT staff provide a range of supportive functions including data and analysis, ICT, communications, change programmes, finance and much more.

CT Policing works hard to create an inclusive and welcoming environment where all its people feel a strong sense of belonging and are able to reach their full potential. An inclusive culture enables them to do things differently, working in ways that meet individuals’ needs, flexing working patterns to ensure a work-life balance that's healthy so that they can deliver the best for the organisation. 

Some of the CT roles mean you will have access to the most sensitive material on a daily basis, which will require security vetting and is part of the CT recruitment process. Please note that this can sometimes take up to six months or longer. Information and guidance is available to support applicants during the vetting process.

Find out how you can play your part in keeping the country safe from terrorism. Do something amazing with your skills. Visit the Counter Terrorism Policing Careers website to start your career today.

Counter Terrorism Policing is just one way your career could take you. Explore other roles you could progress into.