Description of impact
CTEBRG is part of the Counter Terrorism (CT) Policing HQ, that devises policy and strategy, coordinates and evaluates national CT projects, facilitates the collaboration between academia and the building of a Prevent database, and works with the government and intelligence agencies. Dr Hamourtziadou was invited to become a member because of her work as a casualty recorder, war scholar, and international terrorism expert.Over one hundred members from various academic institutions participate in meetings and in research with staff from the Metropolitan Police, the Home Office, various police forces, the Deterrence Centre, MI5, and MI6. The flagship project for this group is the creation of the Prevent. Prevent is a safeguarding programme aimed at stopping people from becoming involved in terrorism or extremism. People might be referred if someone is worried about radicalisation, extreme ideological views linked to violence or sudden behavioral changes that raise concern. A database was created to record referrals and outcomes of each case.
This collaborative work helps to prevent vulnerable people being drawn into criminal or terrorist behavior. The government-led, multi-agency Prevent programme aims to stop individuals becoming terrorists; academia and police play a key role. BCU collaborate with community organisations to help find solutions and work to support and protect vulnerable people. To prevent radicalisation and attacks, we collect data and provide analysis.
Dr Hamourtziadou used some of the readings and tools in her teaching at BCU with Professional Policing students who found the references and analysis especially useful. Two students have since joined CTEBRG. Det Superintendent Davison had visited BCU twice to speak to students and co-authored an article in Policing Insight with Dr Anna Kruglova and Dr Hamourtziadou: ‘Researching and responding to radicalisation and terrorism.’ Dr Hamourtziadou has received recognition of her contribution to matters of national security within counterterrorism from Det Superintendent Davison: “The impact of the work you have carried out with us can be seen in areas of personal, community and national security, enabling us to reduce the risk from terrorism to UK citizens, especially in providing protection from radicalisation. Your role in evaluating the research content of the CT Academic Database focusing on major themes under CT and Prevent regarding International Terrorism, Prevent Vulnerabilities, Al-Qaeda and Daesh Inspired Extremism, Extreme Right-Wing Terrorism and Left, Anarchist and Single-Issue (LASIT) Extremism, has been invaluable and I am very grateful for your contribution. Your expertise as an academic specialising in security and as a practitioner casualty recorder, for the renowned NGO Iraq Body Count, has provided both key data and important insights into the ways terrorists operate and in new strategies to counteract their harmful narratives and mitigate threats.”
Dr Lily Hamourtziadou’s involvement in the CTEBRG has contributed directly to national counter-terrorism policy and practice. Through collaboration with key stakeholders including the Metropolitan Police, the Home Office, MI5 and MI6, the project exemplifies BCU’s commitment to applied research that addresses complex global challenges. The development and evaluation of the Prevent Programme further evidences the University’s role in shaping interventions that enhance public safety and reduce the risk of radicalisation.
The project also advances BCU’s strategic focus on student experience and graduate employability. Research insights and materials from this work have been embedded into teaching within Professional Policing programmes, enriching the curriculum with current, practice-based knowledge. Engagement with external partners, including guest lectures and collaborative opportunities, has enabled students to gain direct exposure to practitioners in the field. Notably, student progression into participation within the Counter Terrorism Evidence Based Review Group highlights the project’s role in creating pathways into high-level professional networks and careers.
In addition, the initiative reflects BCU’s commitment to building and sustaining meaningful partnerships. The collaboration spans academia, government, law enforcement, and community organisations, reinforcing the University’s position as a trusted partner in addressing societal challenges. This multi-agency approach not only strengthens the impact of the research but also enhances BCU’s reputation for fostering interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration.
Finally, the project contributes to BCU’s civic mission by supporting efforts to safeguard vulnerable individuals and communities. Through data collection, analysis, and evidence-based interventions, the work underpins strategies designed to prevent individuals from being drawn into terrorism or extremism. In doing so, it demonstrates the University’s commitment to generating research that delivers measurable social value, while also raising its national and international profile in the fields of security, policing, and counter-terrorism.
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