Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre

What is the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre?

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) is the UK’s independent authority for all-source terrorism assessment. JTAC is based within MI5 and reports to the Director General, but their assessments are made independently.

Find out more about terrorism threat levels

JTAC’s role

JTAC sets the national terrorism threat level as well as the threat level from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism in Northern Ireland and issues warnings of threats and other terrorism-related subjects to government departments and law enforcement.

It was founded in 2003 and forms a critical part of the UK’s counter terrorism system, providing assessments of the terrorist threats in the UK and around the world.

The information supplied by JTAC helps to inform protective security measures and advice. Its analysis provides the evidence base for much of the UK’s counter-terrorism policy at home and overseas. Where necessary, this information will be shared with the public or relevant industries.

JTAC’s people

JTAC brings together counter-terrorism experts from the UK’s intelligence agencies, police and government departments. They work particularly closely with MI5’s counter-terrorism branch. This ensures that its analysis is informed by a wide range of knowledge, expertise and different perspectives.