London has recently experienced the two main types of terrorist threat faced by the UK. The murderous suicide bombing on the capital’s transport network in July 2005 and the failed car bomb attack on a nightclub in June last year reveal the dangers that are posed by terrorism.

However, it’s the fear and uncertainty created by the possibility of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack – seen on a small scale in 2006 when Alexander Litvinenko was assassinated – that tends to attract research funding.

Litvinenko was poisoned by polonium210, which is radioactive. But it’s unlikely that a large scale attack of that sort will happen here anytime soon, says Dr Peter Lehr, a lecturer in terrorism studies at the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at the University of St Andrews. “There are so many airports, railway stations, ports, cinemas, theatres, skyscrapers that are easy targets and you cannot protect them all,” he says. “This is where I see the real threat.”

Not surprisingly, the Government has put an emphasis on protecting public spaces and critical infrastructure such as the London Underground.

The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI), part of the security service, advises other government departments, private utility firms and agencies such as the Olympic Delivery Authority on how to protect their assets from national security threats.

As part of its work, the CPNI carries out research and development in areas such as detecting illegal or malicious substances at long distances.

The rather shadowy organisation recently advertised for a behavioural scientist to assist with research into why terrorists select certain targets. It is currently looking to recruit physical protective security advisers with a technical or engineering background as well as a maritime security specialist. Don’t expect a pay packet comparable to the private sector, though. The satisfaction of an important job, well done, is on offer instead.

The Home Office Scientific Development Branch is also looking for people with specialist skills to help it to carry out the counter-terrorism work that is one part of its remit.

It is looking for scientists and engineers with explosives training. “They are a rare skill-set when you are looking for them combined,” Jenny Stewart, its head of corporate services, says.

“There is definitely a market shortage [and] that has led us to have quite a different recruitment approach in recent years, in terms of bringing people in with one set of skills and training them in the other.”

The suicide bomb attacks on the British embassy and the Turkish headquarters of HSBC in Istanbul in 2003 made organisations in the private sector look to their own security, says John Haddon, the practice leader for security consulting at Arup, a design and business consulting firm.

As well as work in counter-terrorist design, electronic security systems and blast engineering, Arup’s 55-strong UK team carry out risk profiling and threat assessment. They often use 3D models to simulate different risks, including terrorist incidents.

Some of Haddon’s team are ex-military with intelligence or force protection experience. Continuous professional development is vital because threats change so quickly, he says. “Somebody will always think of a different method of attacking a client.”

www.cpni.gov.uk scienceandresearch.homeof-fice.gov.uk/hosdb

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