The threat of terrorism forced John Reid to split his department in two, reports robert fox. |
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It was the urgent and overdue need to shake up the management of counter-terrorism and security in Britain that led to the splitting up of the Home Office, according to the plan's mastermind, John Reid. The ever-forceful Cabinet bruiser is pushing through the reform in the teeth of opposition from political rivals, and past and present civil servants.
Reid realised that things had to change within weeks of taking over at the Home Office last year, a sentiment encapsulated in his 'not fit for purpose' catchphrase. He needed to concentrate on terrorism as a priority but found he had to juggle the threats from new terrorist groups and methodologies along with the crisis of prison places and unaccounted-for immigrants committing crimes.
Central to his plan is a new National |
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| The ever-forceful John Reid is pushing through his reforms in the face of opposition from political rivals |
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Security Committee to be chaired by the Prime Minister monthly, and its powerful subordinate, the National Security Board, which will meet weekly under the Home Secretary. Crucially, both bodies are to be served by a new Joint Information Centre, which can now distribute urgently needed intelligence information and analysis between key agencies and ministers.
Speedy and clear information and simple lines of command are needed to deal with sudden and real threats - though delivery will necessitate a sea change in attitude among some old-school civil servants.
It is the capacity for ruthlessness and tactical and technical innovation by the terrorists that has alarmed Reid. Six major plots have been thwarted since he took over at the Home Office, he claims.
The July 7, 2005 bus and tube bombings caused a major scare, as did the plot to blow up airliners by suicide bombers with home- made bombs unmasked last summer, which was only prevented with days to spare. The fear is we may not be so lucky next time. 
FIRST POSTED MARCH 29, 2007
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