One of the first acts of the British coalition government was the establishment of a National Security Council. Its primary task was to prepare a new strategic defense and security review. This was published on the day before the government announced its austerity program.

The threats to British security listed in the review are very different from those of the Cold War. The highest priority is given to tackling the threat from terrorism. This includes "reforming how we tackle radicalization." The government "will act resolutely" against both the threat from al-Qaida and its affiliates and the residual threat from terrorism linked to Northern Ireland.

To this end the government will continue to invest in a range of covert intelligence activities to "identify, investigate and disrupt terrorist activity." The U.K. border agency has an important role in stopping infiltration of our borders.