Counter Terrorism Command
| Counter Terrorism Command | |
|---|---|
| Active | 2 October 2006 – present (formed from the merger of the |
| Agency | |
| Operations jurisdiction | |
| Headquarters | New Scotland Yard, Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JL |
| Abbreviation | CTC SO15 |
| Part of a series on |
| Counterterrorism and Countering violent extremism |
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The Counter Terrorism Command (CTC) or SO15 is a Specialist Operations branch within London's Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Police. The CTC was established as a result of the merging of the Anti-Terrorist Branch (SO13) and Special Branch (SO12) in October 2006, bringing together intelligence, operations, and investigative functions to form a single command. The CTC has more than 1,500 police officers and staff, including a number of investigators based overseas, and also hosts the Counter Terrorism Policing headquarters.
It originated in 1883 as the Irish Bureau, or Special Irish Branch as it became known, formed in 1883 at New Scotland Yard by the then Home Secretary, Sir William Harcourt. It consisted of just 12 detectives aiming to defeat the "Fenian" terrorist campaign that had been ongoing in London and across the country. By November 2013, the form of the CTC had grown to comprise 1,790 staff including 1,350 police officers and 600 detectives working in 75 specialist units with the capability to respond proactively or reactively anywhere in the world.