Book excerpt: This is an accessible and up to date text for students on police-related degree courses covering a highly topical area of policing. Terrorism has become a major issue for policing during the 21st century, exacerbated by world events, the emerging new terrorism with its global implications, and a growing need to develop effective counter-terrorism strategies. The book provides students with a historical perspective, introduces a number of well established theories relating to terrorism, and considers how the UK has responded by developing a counter terrorism strategy. In a fast-moving area, it captures the latest changes in legislation and government strategy.