Abstract
Recent terror incidents in the UK, including the targeting of concert attendees in Manchester, to individuals socialising and working in central London, highlight the public’s vulnerability and that attacks can be indiscriminate, resulting in any individual becoming a victim to this fearful crime. As a consequence of these and other attacks, including those overseas, media reporting within the UK has increasingly focused on the inadequate levels of support offered to survivors from official agencies. However, little evaluation has been conducted regarding the benefits of support networks and online support groups created directly by those individuals affected by terror attacks. Quantitative research findings obtained through a self-administered online questionnaire, completed by 81 survivors of terrorist attacks who are members of different peer support networks in the UK, endorsed that while victims feel that adequate professional support is lacking, significant positive experiences have been achieved through peer support, particularly through the internet. This first independent academic study found that it was these methods of support that had the most resonance with individuals and offers several recommendations, based on findings, which could enhance and improve support for survivors of terrorism in the future.
Highlights
In recent years, the year 2017 can possibly be regarded as one of the most challenging for the police and security services with regard to the fight against terror in the UK
All three groups have at the heart of their ethos the value of peer support: (i) Foundation for Peace/Survivors Assistance Network, a nonaligned charity established by the parents of a victim from the UK Warrington bomb attack (1993), which assists British-based citizens who are victims of terrorism within the UK or overseas; (ii) Omagh Support Group, a charity providing support to victims and the wider community, which was created by victims of the 1988 Omagh terrorist attack in Northern Ireland; and (iii) Manchester Attack Support, a peer support group for those affected by the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, established and managed by a sociologist with personal experience of the Hillsborough football stadium tragedy
The results demonstrated an overwhelming preference by those affected by terrorism to seek support through peers who have experienced the same event, as opposed to seeking support through professional, established victim support organisations
Summary
The year 2017 can possibly be regarded as one of the most challenging for the police and security services with regard to the fight against terror in the UK During this period an unprecedented five terror attacks occurred, resulting in the deaths of 36 individuals, with numerous others experiencing life-changing physical and psychological injuries. In the 12 months between 1 June 2016 and 1 June 2017, 449 arrests were made for terrorist-related offences in the UK, with a further 351 arrests made during the following 12-month period (Home Office, 2018) Such figures endorse how the threat is ever present, and with this comes the likelihood of further terror attacks, impacting both physically and mentally on more individuals. While government funding for counterterrorism has experienced a sharp increase in recent years, this is not necessarily invested in addressing the long-term after-effects of terrorism and the care of victims, with terrorist victims frequently positioned lower in counterterrorism priorities (Bottigliero et al, 2015)
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