The UK's terror threat level is being raised from "substantial" to "severe"

covenantuk · 29 Aug 2014 at 15:44

Keep everyone afraid, ready for the next round of legislation curtailing freedom and civil rights.

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Mynight · 29 Aug 2014 at 15:46

Wonder what emergency measures are going to come in off the back off this :eek:

.

China version of the Internet maybe?

FinglisHobbit · 29 Aug 2014 at 15:47

Glaucus said:
Haha, I contributed an opinion, an opinion more than likely helfpd by a massive percentage of the public. You've said nothing.

So do you care? Let me guess no. Is it going to change how you behave day to day? No.

Well ok, Ill answer your first post.

Personally. I care. The threat level isn't often raised, and when it is, its due to intelligence regarding things that aren't particularly nice.

I don't like the idea of people being blown up on the tube, or buildings being bombed, people being murdered or such like.

The whole changing of the threat level in itself might not mean much to you, but it reflects the increased potential of grim things happening.

Continue about your day as normal, that's a perfectly good attitude to have, but to shoot down the OP as if none of this actually matters is just pathetic.

It affects my life and that of people I know more personally than it would you, so maybe Im being defensive.

Glaucus · 29 Aug 2014 at 15:49

FinglisHobbit said:
Well ok, Ill answer your first post.

Personally. I care. The threat level isn't often raised, and when it is, its due to intelligence regarding things that aren't particularly nice.

I don't like the idea of people being blown up on the tube, or buildings being bombed, people being murdered or such like.

The whole changing of the threat level in itself might not mean much to you, but it reflects the increased potential of grim things happening.

Continue about your day as normal, that's a perfectly good attitude to have, but to shoot down the OP as if none of this actually matters is just pathetic.

It affects my life and that of people I know more personally than it would you, so maybe Im being defensive.

Most of which has zero to do with threat level. Threat level does not blow up buildings.
It wasn't shooting the op down.
As I said the vast majority of the public will have the same opinion. It really is a pointless thing that has never done anything.

benjii · 29 Aug 2014 at 15:49

scorza said:
I don't see the point of this. If there's some evidence of an imminent terrorist threat then err, just arrest the suspects and carry on. What am I supposed to do as a result of raising this threat level? If I change my behaviour in any way as a result then haven't like the terrorists won?

P.S. in before allegations of a "false flag" attack crop up.

I agree with this. However, if 24 has taught us anything, it's that catching terrorists isn't as easy as that.

Burnsy2023 · 29 Aug 2014 at 15:52

I see no point in these national threat level for the general public. It's basically the gov saying "you should be more afraid!!!"

Mynight · 29 Aug 2014 at 15:54

benjii said:
I agree with this. However, if 24 has taught us anything, it's that catching terrorists isn't as easy as that.

Pretty sure 24 has taught us that it only takes 24 (well 18 )hours per terrorist per CT team. That should mean we'd get at least 360 a year. (5 days holiday lets be nice). Assuming we only have one team.

FinglisHobbit · 29 Aug 2014 at 15:57

Glaucus said:
Most of which has zero to do with threat level. Threat level does not blow up buildings.
It wasn't shooting the op down.
As I said the vast majority of the public will have the same opinion. It really is a pointless thing that has never done anything.

Maybe your post should have been more along the lines of "I don't care.. bla bla bla" as opposed to implying no-one cares then.

randomshenans · 29 Aug 2014 at 15:57

Nice bit of control through fear. What will they try to push through under this I wonder.

Glaucus · 29 Aug 2014 at 15:57

FinglisHobbit said:
Maybe your post should have been more along the lines of "I don't care.. bla bla bla" as opposed to implying no-one cares then.

But the vast majority of people don't care, how many people do you think visits the home office page daily to check, the fact is 99% of people don't care. as it really is a meaningless thing which can't do anything. Other than make you afraid if your a bit weak minded.

nitram100 · 29 Aug 2014 at 15:58

Glaucus said:
Who cares.

Agreed.

FinglisHobbit · 29 Aug 2014 at 15:59

Glaucus said:
But the vast majority of people don't care, how many people do you think visits the home office page daily to check, the fact is 99% of people don't care. as it really is a meaningless thing which can't do anything. Other than make you afraid.

I see your point with regards to people keeping up to date on it. Although when its ramped up to its second highest and highest levels personally I would care and like to be told.

Murf · 29 Aug 2014 at 16:00

FinglisHobbit said:
Well ok, Ill answer your first post.

Personally. I care. The threat level isn't often raised, and when it is, its due to intelligence regarding things that aren't particularly nice.

I don't like the idea of people being blown up on the tube, or buildings being bombed, people being murdered or such like.

The whole changing of the threat level in itself might not mean much to you, but it reflects the increased potential of grim things happening.

Continue about your day as normal, that's a perfectly good attitude to have, but to shoot down the OP as if none of this actually matters is just pathetic.

It affects my life and that of people I know more personally than it would you, so maybe Im being defensive.

My God, how do you cope with more mundane stuff like smoking, road traffic accidents, spousal abuse etc. that happens much more regularly than terrorist incidents in this country.

They can raise the threat level to whatever the hell they want. It's a load of rubbish. I'm more likely to be hit by a bus or stabbed by my GF than blown up.

balky12 · 29 Aug 2014 at 16:01

Burnsy2023 said:
I see no point in these national threat level for the general public. It's basically the gov saying "you should be more afraid!!!"

It is kind of pointless. But they damned if they do damned if they don't.

*terrorist incident happens without warning*
Public: WTH? OMG! Why was we not warned?
Government/ Secret Service: We didn't know anything..
Public: OMFG! WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO?!?!?! USELESS!!!

*terrorist incident happens without warning*
Public: WTH? OMG! Why was we not warned?
Government/ Secret Service: We didn't want to scare you...
Public: OMFG! CAN'T KEEP THAT STUFF FROM US!!!! USELESS!!!

*Warning increases and terrorsit incident*
Public: WTH? OMG! Why were they not stopped?
Government/ Secret Service: Intelligence was lacking...
Public: BUT YOU KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!! USELESS!!!

*Warning increases but no incident*
Public: WTH? MORE SCAREMONGERING!! Just arrest them!!! WHAT DO YOU DO ALL DAY?!?!
Government/ Secret Service: Sigh...

Judgeneo · 29 Aug 2014 at 16:01

DannyDrama said:
It's probably just been raised because Obama is in the country for NATO next week I think. Guy needs his own threat level that follows him around everywhere.

Not specifically Obama, but the NATO conference is a huge target, so many high profile people. It is surely part of the reason the threat level has gone up. Don't go to Wales eh!

glenimp617 · 29 Aug 2014 at 16:03

most of the idiots in this country don't watch the news, yet alone care about threat levels

do I care.....not really, I still gotta drive into work everyday right?

FinglisHobbit · 29 Aug 2014 at 16:04

Murf said:
My God, how do you cope with more mundane stuff like smoking, road traffic accidents, spousal abuse etc. that happens much more regularly than terrorist incidents in this country.

They can raise the threat level to whatever the hell they want. It's a load of rubbish. I'm more likely to be hit by a bus or stabbed by my GF than blown up.

I'm not arguing statistics

, I understand Ive got more chance of dying from being struck by a car, but I still like to know when the threat level on the country changes.

Most people probably think its just some kinda Illuminati ploy to keep us spooked. But I like to think it holds some integrity.

FinglisHobbit · 29 Aug 2014 at 16:11

the_chicco said:
Here we go again, more scaremongering. Like others have said, no one really cares.

Err, what?

So in other words, a load of ******** and nothing credible and to potentially act as a distraction for something the Govt is about to pull on Joe Public.

What is the result of the scaremongering then? Are they wanting to incite racial hatred or something? What do you think the government is about to pull on Joe Public?

scorza · 29 Aug 2014 at 16:16

the_chicco said:
Here we go again, more scaremongering. Like others have said, no one really cares.

Err, what?

So in other words, a load of ******** and nothing credible and to potentially act as a distraction for something the Govt is about to pull on Joe Public.

Stating the obvious isn't scaremongering. I think the point is that we don't need some arbitrary government DEFCON style terror threat level to know that there's a load of Islamic extremists in this country who are prepared to commit all manner of atrocities in the name of their warped version of Islam.

n111ck · 29 Aug 2014 at 16:26

Couldn't someone just resurrect the last threat level raised thread for all the same tedious responses about 'fear', 'false flag' and 'restricted freedoms' - surprised no ones mentioned 'the power of nightmares' zzzzzz zzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzz.

The threat level is for setting the military, security services and police readiness levels and contingency plans as well as putting anyone thinking of an attack on notice - oh and also for scaring paranoid conspiracists on web forums...