4 ms·

>What the threat levels mean: Threat levels are designed to give a broad indication of the likelihood of a terrorist attack. LOW means an attack is highly unl

>What the threat levels mean: Threat levels are designed to give a broad indication of the likelihood of a terrorist attack. LOW means an attack is highly unlikely MODERATE means an attack is possible, but not likely SUBSTANTIAL means an attack is likely SEVERE means an attack is highly likely CRITICAL means an attack is highly likely in the near future

LatteLazy 6y ago
It's worth noting that the level has literally never been below substantial or above severe. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Threat_Levels https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Threat_Levels
- mtmail 6y ago
  The 5 color US equivalent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Terrorism_Advisory_System https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Terrorism_Advisory_Sy... has never been on the lowest levels either, "high threat level is now considered as the "baseline.""
- brainfish 6y ago
  From the linked wikipedia page: 'It had been raised to "critical" following the Parsons Green bombing on 15 September.' (2017) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41288525 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41288525
- makomk 6y ago
  Though if you click through to the Wikipedia page for the previous alert scheme it replaced, apparently the lowest "white" no-alert level under that was "known to have been used for periods between the Good Friday Agreement and the 9th of September 2001". Really, it's just a reflection of the times we're in right now.
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
  - ATsch 6y ago
    I think it's a bigger reflection of the fact that there is absolutely zero incentive to lower these alerts and that the police, who inform the threat level, generally benefit greatly from the "temporarily" expanded privileges from higher levels.
  - wongarsu 6y ago
    > Really, it's just a reflection of the times we're in right now. How so? Looking at charts like [1] or [2] it seems current threat levels should be much lower than in the time before 2001. Notable terror attacks in the UK have gone from a regular occurance to a once-in-a-decade deal. 1: https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-6aa8066136b8b875fc4805d3248f3b41 https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-6aa8066136b8b875fc4805... 2: https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/eca0e3ae8792b445038a7dd22008a999 https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/eca0e3ae8792b445038a7dd2...
    - gsnedders 6y ago
      The nature of the attacks is very different; the majority of historic deaths in those charts were of policemen and armed forces. It would be interesting to see similar charts with them excluded!
- gsnedders 6y ago
  Note that it's gone from tracking one figure (all forms of terrorism), to three figures (international terrorism, NI-related in GB, NI-related in NI), to two figures (all forms of terrorism, NI-related in NI). While there were three figures, NI-related in GB did reach moderate.
goodluckchuck 6y ago
To be fair, a terrorist attack is more than highly likely to occur, it’s a certainty. The only question is when. Near? Distant? Remote? Eventually?
- kencausey 6y ago
  Well, presumably the threat level is meant to apply to the UK specifically, none of which is all that far away from any other part.
- NextHendrix 6y ago
  And the threat level is for 'when'
rmrfstar 6y ago
I'm old enough to remember the US "color code" scheme after 9/11. It was super weird. Any time they would announce some deeply unpopular unconstitutional measure (surveillance, war) they would bang the "CODE RED!" drum for the week running up to to the announcement.
hanoz 6y ago
In reality they mean: LOW (deprecated) MODERATE (deprecated) SUBSTANTIAL means an attack has not happened recently SEVERE means an attack has happened recently CRITICAL means an attack has happened very recently and may be ongoing
cm2187 6y ago
Reminds me of vigipirate (french equivalent alert level). France sends the army on patrol to mitigate the risk of terrorism. A friend in the army told me that when it is at the base level, the troops are patroling with empty rifles and no have bullet on them (basically just a display of force to make the population feel safer). When it is the medium level, they have bullets on them but none loaded in their rifles. When it is at the highest level their guns are loaded.

LatteLazy 6y ago

It's worth noting that the level has literally never been below substantial or above severe. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Threat_Levels https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Threat_Levels

mtmail 6y ago
The 5 color US equivalent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Terrorism_Advisory_System https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Terrorism_Advisory_Sy... has never been on the lowest levels either, "high threat level is now considered as the "baseline.""
brainfish 6y ago
From the linked wikipedia page: 'It had been raised to "critical" following the Parsons Green bombing on 15 September.' (2017) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41288525 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41288525
makomk 6y ago
Though if you click through to the Wikipedia page for the previous alert scheme it replaced, apparently the lowest "white" no-alert level under that was "known to have been used for periods between the Good Friday Agreement and the 9th of September 2001". Really, it's just a reflection of the times we're in right now.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- ATsch 6y ago
  I think it's a bigger reflection of the fact that there is absolutely zero incentive to lower these alerts and that the police, who inform the threat level, generally benefit greatly from the "temporarily" expanded privileges from higher levels.
- wongarsu 6y ago
  > Really, it's just a reflection of the times we're in right now. How so? Looking at charts like [1] or [2] it seems current threat levels should be much lower than in the time before 2001. Notable terror attacks in the UK have gone from a regular occurance to a once-in-a-decade deal. 1: https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-6aa8066136b8b875fc4805d3248f3b41 https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-6aa8066136b8b875fc4805... 2: https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/eca0e3ae8792b445038a7dd22008a999 https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/eca0e3ae8792b445038a7dd2...
  - gsnedders 6y ago
    The nature of the attacks is very different; the majority of historic deaths in those charts were of policemen and armed forces. It would be interesting to see similar charts with them excluded!
gsnedders 6y ago
Note that it's gone from tracking one figure (all forms of terrorism), to three figures (international terrorism, NI-related in GB, NI-related in NI), to two figures (all forms of terrorism, NI-related in NI). While there were three figures, NI-related in GB did reach moderate.

goodluckchuck 6y ago

To be fair, a terrorist attack is more than highly likely to occur, it’s a certainty. The only question is when. Near? Distant? Remote? Eventually?

kencausey 6y ago
Well, presumably the threat level is meant to apply to the UK specifically, none of which is all that far away from any other part.
NextHendrix 6y ago
And the threat level is for 'when'

rmrfstar 6y ago

I'm old enough to remember the US "color code" scheme after 9/11. It was super weird. Any time they would announce some deeply unpopular unconstitutional measure (surveillance, war) they would bang the "CODE RED!" drum for the week running up to to the announcement.

hanoz 6y ago

In reality they mean: LOW (deprecated) MODERATE (deprecated) SUBSTANTIAL means an attack has not happened recently SEVERE means an attack has happened recently CRITICAL means an attack has happened very recently and may be ongoing

cm2187 6y ago

Reminds me of vigipirate (french equivalent alert level). France sends the army on patrol to mitigate the risk of terrorism. A friend in the army told me that when it is at the base level, the troops are patroling with empty rifles and no have bullet on them (basically just a display of force to make the population feel safer). When it is the medium level, they have bullets on them but none loaded in their rifles. When it is at the highest level their guns are loaded.