Chapter 4 – Protect Our People 23 Chapter 4 – Protect Our People Overview 4.1 National Security Objective 1 is to protect our people – at home, in our Overseas Territories and abroad, and to protect our territory, economic security, infrastructure and way of life. 4.2 This chapter sets out how the Government will use the full spectrum of our capabilities to do this. In particular, we will invest in our Armed Forces and security and intelligence agencies; deter potential adversaries, including with our nuclear deterrent; combat extremism and terrorism at home and overseas; put in place tough and innovative cyber security measures; strengthen our ability to disrupt serious and organised crime; and increase our resilience against threats and hazards. 4.3 This is an integrated, cross-government effort, at home and overseas. For example, our domestic work is led by the Home Office, but also involves a wide range of other government and law enforcement agencies. Our security and intelligence agencies work closely together, and with law enforcement, military, industry and international partners, to protect our national security. Our diplomatic work led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) builds effective, long-term partnerships overseas, which enable us better to disrupt threats to the UK and tackle them at source. A. Protecting the UK, Overseas Territories and British nationals overseas 4.4 The Government’s most important duty is the defence of the UK and Overseas Territories, and protection of our people and sovereignty. 4.5 We will tackle all threats to the UK, our people and our interests. The UK will remain resilient to, and a hostile environment for, those who intend us harm, whether they are statebased or non-state actors such as terrorists and criminals, and we will coordinate all levers of national power so that the sum of our efforts is greater than the constituent parts. Deterrence 4.6 Defence and protection start with deterrence, which has long been, and remains, at the heart of the UK’s national security policy. Deterrence means that any potential aggressors