A Strong Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The National Security StrategyFor the first time, the Government has produced a full strategy for national security alongside clear decisions about our country’s priorities, the capabilities we need to achieve them and the resources we will allocate... It identifies ... eight crosscutting National Security Tasks, supported by more detailed planning guidelines. In terms of our National Security Strategy, these are the ways in which we will act to achieve our objectives.The National Security Council will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of this National Security Strategy and of the Strategic Defence and Security Review decisions. Lead ministers will have responsibility for coordinating priority areas of work across government, supported by officials, to implement the strategy and the review. We will publish an annual report of progress on implementation for scrutiny by the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the National Security Strategy, and we commit to producing a new National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review every five years.Her Majesty's GovernmentHMG_08bd7158-86e7-11e2-ba3a-139cfe1f21e9David CameronPrime MinisterNick CleggDeputy Prime MinisterNational Security CouncilThe National Security Council ensures a strategic and tightly coordinated approach across the whole of government to the risks and opportunities the country faces and gives strategic direction to the efforts of our Armed Forces in Afghanistan to help them succeed in their mission._08bd73c4-86e7-11e2-ba3a-139cfe1f21e9_08bd748c-86e7-11e2-ba3a-139cfe1f21e9Civil LibertiesNational Security and British values -- The UK has a proud tradition of protecting its citizens, promoting civil liberties and upholding the rule of law. For 800 years, the UK has been at the forefront of shaping the relationship between the rights of individuals and the powers and obligations of the state.Rule of LawSecurityAt the same time, we need security to protect the freedoms we hold dear. Security and freedom should be reinforcing. Both form part of our national interest. National security is about protecting our people – including their rights and liberties – as well as protecting our democratic institutions and traditions.FreedomDemocratic InstitutionsBalanceTo protect the security and freedom of many, the state sometimes has to encroach on the liberties of a few: those who threaten us. We must strike the right balance in doing this, acting proportionately, with due process and with appropriate democratic oversight.Due ProcessDemocratic OversightSecrecyOur security and intelligence agencies play a vital role in protecting our country from threats to our way of life. It is inherent in their work that most of it has to be done in secret to protect those who risk their lives for our security, and to maintain the confidence and cooperation of partners overseas. For the same reasons the exercise of oversight, whether by Parliament or through the courts, also has to involve a measure of secrecy. Here too we must strike a balance, between the transparency that accountability normally entails, and the secrecy that security demands. Protecting our security requires us to work with countries who do not share our values and standards of criminal justice. In working with them to protect our country from terrorist attacks and other threats we do not compromise on our values. We speak out against abuses and use our own conduct as an example. But we have to strike a balance between public condemnation of any deviation from our values and the need to protect our security through international cooperation. Striking these balances is not always straightforward, and reasonable people can differ on how to do it. In recent years it has not proved easy to ind this balance in some cases. So next year, we will publish a Green Paper seeking views on a range of options, designed to enable the courts and other oversight bodies to scrutinise modern day national security actions effectively without compromising our security in the process.ConfidenceCooperationPartnershipRisk MitigationBut our core values are not open to question. In July 2010, we published consolidated guidance for the use of intelligence and service personnel on the detention and interviewing of detainees oversees. That guidance makes clear, in particular, that such personnel must never take any action where they know or believe torture will occur. They must also report other concerns and take steps to mitigate risks. They report any abuses and take action where they can to stop it. Acting on our values in this way is central to our approach to national security. As the Foreign Secretary has said, “we cannot achieve long-term security and prosperity unless we uphold our values.”Security & ResiliencyEnsure a secure and resilient UK_08bd752c-86e7-11e2-ba3a-139cfe1f21e91Protecting our people, economy, infrastructure, territory and way of life from all major risks that can afect us directly – requiring both direct protection against real and present threats such as terrorism and cyber attack, resilience in the face of natural and man-made emergencies and crime, and deterrence against less likely threats such as a military attack by another state_08bd763a-86e7-11e2-ba3a-139cfe1f21e9World StabilityShape a stable world_08bd7702-86e7-11e2-ba3a-139cfe1f21e92Acting to reduce the likelihood of risks affecting the UK or our interests overseas. We do this by applying all our instruments of power and influence to shape the global environment and tackle potential risks at source. We must address trends that contribute to instability, as well as tackling risks directly._08bd77c0-86e7-11e2-ba3a-139cfe1f21e9National Security TasksIdentify National Security Tasks [as] the ways in which we will act to achieve our objectives._08bd789c-86e7-11e2-ba3a-139cfe1f21e9Risks & OpportunitiesIdentify and monitor national security risks and opportunities._08bd796e-86e7-11e2-ba3a-139cfe1f21e9Task 1InstabilityTackle at root the causes of instability._08bd7a40-86e7-11e2-ba3a-139cfe1f21e9Task 2InfluenceExert influence to exploit opportunities and manage risks._08bd7b26-86e7-11e2-ba3a-139cfe1f21e9Task 3Law Enforcement & International NormsEnforce domestic law and strengthen international norms to help tackle those who threaten the UK and our interests._08bd7c0c-86e7-11e2-ba3a-139cfe1f21e9Task 4Physical & Electronic ThreatsProtect the UK and our interests at home, at our border, and internationally, in order to address physical and electronic threats from state and non-state sources._08bd7cf2-86e7-11e2-ba3a-139cfe1f21e9Task 5Conflict Resolution & StabilityHelp resolve conflicts and contribute to stability._08bd7dec-86e7-11e2-ba3a-139cfe1f21e9Task 6Where necessary, intervene overseas, including the legal use of coercive force in support of the UK’s vital interests, and to protect our overseas territories and people.Emergencies & RecoveryProvide resilience for the UK by being prepared for all kinds of emergencies, able to recover from shocks and to maintain essential services._08bd7ee6-86e7-11e2-ba3a-139cfe1f21e9Task 7Alliances & PartnershipsWork in alliances and partnerships wherever possible to generate stronger responses._08bd8026-86e7-11e2-ba3a-139cfe1f21e9Task 82010-11-312013-03-06OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net