CONTEST

CONTEST is the name of a counter-terrorism strategy developed by the United Kingdom's Home Office in early 2003, and first published and made publicly available in 2006. A revised version of 'CONTEST', was released on March 24, 2009. An Annual Report of CONTEST was released in March 2010. The official objective of the strategy is "to reduce the risk from international terrorism, so that people can go about their daily lives freely and with confidence."

CONTEST
CONTEST was elaborated on in a July 2006 Home Office document presented to Parliament entitled Countering International Terrorism: The United Kingdom's Strategy. It is split into four main aspects called the four P's: Prevent, Pursue, Protect, and Prepare.

Prevent
The goal of prevention is to reduce the threat of international terrorism by focusing on the radicalization of individuals. This includes fixing structural problems, deterring those who incite and organize terrorism, and waging a campaign to counter ideologies that are brandished in support of terrorism.

Pursue
The goal of this aspect is to go after terrorists posing a threat to the UK and its interests through intelligence collection and analysis, and disruption (especially through prosecutions), both with increased international cooperation.

Protect
This aspect focuses mainly on improving overall security, including with regard to borders, certain utilities, transportation, and public places.

Prepare
The preparation part of the strategy is based on a three step process of risk and vulnerability analysis, improved response capabilities, and constant preparedness evaluation.

Revised version of CONTEST
The updated strategy is reported to put more focus on ways of prevention and how to best alert the public of terrorist threats. In an article written for The Observer, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated that the strategy is "recognized" by our allies to be world-leading in its wide-ranging nature, [and] leaves us better prepared and strengthened in our ability to ensure all peace-loving people of this country can live normally, with confidence and free from fear."