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Whitehall Reports
Policy-focused assessments of various issues and challenges faced by security professionals in conflict and post-conflict environments, the defence industry and policy-making bodies

Russian and Chinese Combat Air Trends: Current Capabilities and Future Threat Outlook
Whitehall Reports, 30 October 2020Justin Bronk
This Whitehall Report examines Russian and Chinese combat air trends, and looks specifically at fast jets and their weapons systems and capabilities.
Tags: Aerospace, Military Sciences
Defence and the Integrated Review: A Testing Time
Whitehall Reports, 26 March 2020Malcolm Chalmers and Will Jessett
The coronavirus pandemic means that the timeline for the new Integrated Review will need to be revised.
Tags: Armed Forces, Defence Spending, Equipment and Acquisitions, Global Strategy and Commitments, UK Defence
Taking Control: Rediscovering the Centrality of National Interest in UK Foreign and Security Policy
Whitehall Reports, 10 February 2020Malcolm Chalmers
Following Brexit, the UK will need to adopt a flexible approach in its foreign and security policy.
Tags: NATO, European Union, Defence Policy, International Institutions, UK Defence
Turning the Tide? Learning from Responses to Large-Scale Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing in Five Countries
Whitehall Reports, 29 November 2019Charlie de Rivaz, Cathy Haenlein, Alexandria Reid and Veerle Nouwens
A new study sheds light on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, showing how countries can tailor their specific strategies to combat this major security challenge.
Tags: International Security Studies, Organised Crime and Policing, Organised Crime
The UK Strategy on Protection of Civilians: Insights for the Review Process
Whitehall Reports, 18 September 2019Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, Amanda Brydon and Ewan Lawson
This Whitehall Report details the research conducted by RUSI and Save the Children on how to improve the UK's Protection of Civilians strategy following its review.
Tags: Civil–Military Relations, Military Sciences, United Nations, Global Strategy and Commitments, Global Security Issues, Land Forces, Law and Ethics, Maritime Forces, Military Personnel, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, Resilience
No Rest for the Wicked: Driving Change in the UK’s Post-FATF Evaluation AML Regime
Whitehall Reports, 19 February 2019Tom Keatinge, Anton Moiseienko, Florence Keen, David Artingstall, and Helena Wood
This report considers how the UK AML regime should develop after the conclusion of the 2018 Financial Action Task Force Mutual Evaluation of the UK, to drive forward an approach that genuinely protects the UK’s financial integrity in practice (rather than in theory).
Tags: Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, AML/CTF
Deradicalisation and Disengagement in Somalia: Evidence from a Rehabilitation Programme for Former Members of Al-Shabaab
Whitehall Reports, 4 January 2019James Khalil, Rory Brown, Chris Chant, Peter Olowo and Nick Wood
This report examines efforts in Somalia to disengage and deradicalise former members of Al-Shabaab through the Serendi rehabilitation centre. This programme is designed to weaken the group's influence by providing an attractive alternative. The report analyses the programme's effectiveness and makes a case for exploring similar initiatives in other comparable environments.
Tags: International Security Studies, Tackling Extremism, International Responses, Terrorism
Machine Learning Algorithms and Police Decision-Making: Legal, Ethical and Regulatory Challenges
Whitehall Reports, 21 September 2018Alexander Babuta, Marion Oswald and Christine Rinik
This report seeks to critically assess the use of machine learning algorithms for policing, and provide practical recommendations designed to contribute to the fast-moving debate over policy and governance in this area.
Tags: Organised Crime and Policing, Domestic Security, Information, Technology
Mind the Gap: Comparing Foreign Policy Attitudes of Security Elites and the General Public
Whitehall Reports, 26 February 2018Catarina P Thomson
This report offers insights into the differences and commonalities that exist between security elites and the general public, identifying what issues each group considers to be critical threats to the UK.
Tags: Global Strategy and Commitments, Security Policy, National Security, UK Defence
Decision Time: The National Security Capability Review 2017–2018 and Defence
Whitehall Reports, 6 February 2018Malcolm Chalmers
This report looks at the implications of the UK government's decision to take the defence elements out of the National Security Capability Review, which has been underway since July 2017. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has made clear that his 'hope' is that the 'Modernising Defence Programme’ (MDP) will be published before the House of Commons rises for the summer recess in July 2018.
Tags: Armed Forces, Defence Spending, Equipment and Acquisitions