ABSTRACT
Counter-terrorism in the UK involves a complex web of powers, duties, offences and strategies which are arranged across four policy strands: prevent, pursue, protect and prepare. Tracking in the interests of counter-terrorism operates within this field, so rather than talking of a tracking ‘system’ in the interests of counter-terrorism, a more suitable description might be an ‘assemblage’ which can reflect three fluid vectors: time, technique and target. This chapter assesses counter-terrorism tracking across these three vectors. The aim of the chapter is to show how fluid and interactive the process of counter-terrorism tracking can be and how it can affect not just communal interests in harmony and security but also individual human rights to privacy, family life and liberty. Thus one specific, recent instance of tracking in the interests of counter-terrorism will be analysed to highlight the fluidity in the assemblage: the timing, techniques and targets prompted by would-be and returning foreign terrorist fighters, with special reference to the effects on family life.
