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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

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: Organised Crime and Policing, International Security Studies, 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, United Nations, Global Strategy and Commitments, Military Sciences, 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: Tackling Extremism, International Security Studies, 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
Preparing for War in Korea
Whitehall Reports, 27 September 2017Malcolm Chalmers
This report looks at how a war in the Korean Peninsula could start and what might happen should it break out.
Tags: US Defence Policy, Defence Policy
A House Without Foundations: The North Korea Sanctions Regime and its Implementation
Whitehall Reports, 9 June 2017Andrea Berger
This report identifies the challenges of implementing sanctions on North Korea.
Tags: United Nations, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, International Institutions
On Tap Europe: Organised Crime and Illicit Trade in Tobacco, Alcohol and Pharmaceuticals
Whitehall Reports, 23 March 2017Clare Ellis
This is the final report in a series of papers on the role of organised crime groups in the illicit trade of tobacco, alcohol and pharmaceuticals across Europe.
Tags: Organised Crime and Policing, European Union, Organised Crime
Ukraine Talks: A Peaceful Outcome or a Peaceful Sellout?
Sir Michael Howard - A Tribute
We Need to Relearn How to do Deterrence