Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) was established in June 2003 and is based in MI5's headquarters at Thames House in London.

JTAC’s role

JTAC analyses and assesses all intelligence relating to international terrorism, at home and overseas. It sets threat levels and issues warnings of threats and other terrorist-related subjects for customers from a wide range of government departments and agencies, as well as producing more in-depth reports on trends, terrorist networks and capabilities.

JTAC brings together counter-terrorist expertise from the police, and government departments and agencies so information is analysed and processed on a shared basis.

JTAC works especially closely with MI5’s International Counter-Terrorism branch, which manages investigations into terrorist activity in the UK. This enables it to assess the nature and extent of the threat in this country.

Organisation

JTAC is a self-standing organisation comprised of representatives from 16 government departments and agencies. It forms a key element of the national intelligence machinery.

The Head of JTAC is accountable to the Director General of MI5, who in turn reports to the government's Joint Intelligence Committee on JTAC's activities. An Oversight Board, chaired by the Cabinet Office, monitors how effectively JTAC engages with departments and ensures that it provides appropriate analysis and information.

This model has provided an authoritative and effective mechanism for analysing intelligence on the terrorist threat.

Threat Assessments

JTAC's responsibility for assessing the level and nature of the threat from international terrorism was described in CONTEST, the United Kingdom's Strategy for Countering Terrorism, published by the Government in July 2011.

For a brief summary of current threats, see the threat to the UK from international terrorism and the UK's threat level system.