Abstract:
This report presents a first inventory of measures aimed at combating
radicalisation, extremism and terrorism (referred to in this report as
counterterrorism policy) in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and
the United States. Commissioned by the NCTb, the WODC (the Research and
Documentation Centre of the Dutch Ministry of Justice) carried out a study into
counterterrorism measures in place in the countries investigated in early 2006. This
study comprises the first international inventory of a number of policy fields under
development, whereby the counterterrorism policies discussed here are
characterised by extremely rapid development and innovation. This inventory can
serve as point of departure for the registration of policy developments and to
obtain an insight into their effectiveness. The continuous monitoring of the
developments is therefore recommended.
Researchers in Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the United States have drawn up
working documents, each with an inventory of the policy in place in that particular
country, taking their information from public sources, mostly government
publications and Websites, as well as articles, reports and books. Data on the
United Kingdom were collected by the WODC. The closing date for the data
collection was 1 February 2006.
Besides the inventory, the researchers were invited:
- to present a brief history of the development of the counterterrorism policy in
the country in question, focusing on experiences with past terrorism and how
it was combated
- to devote attention where possible to (policy) assumptions on which more
recent measures are based
- to present available evaluations.
Due to the study’s character of providing an inventory, differences may occur
between the countries as regards topic detailing. This is “work in progress”
involving a policy field in progress. There is no systematic comparison between the
countries. It is not possible, therefore, to draw conclusions based on this report for
the introduction of certain measures in the Netherlands. However, following a
summary of the key study results, seven strategic issues were identified as they
emerged from the material.
