Homeland Security Group

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intelligence agency

Homeland Security Group  link () Powerbase
Formation	2021
HSG is responsible for CONTEST, the UK's counterterrorism strategy

The Homeland Security Group (HSG) is a British intelligence agency that was created in April 2021 and is the new name for the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism in the Home Office.

Intelligence

Like the OSCT, the HSG is one of the ‘seven Agencies and Departments which form the UK Intelligence Community’.

The other six agencies are:

• MI5 (the Security Service);
• MI6 (the Secret Intelligence Service);
• GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters);
• Defence Intelligence in the Ministry of Defence;
• Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO) in the Cabinet Office; and,
• National Security Secretariat (NSS) in the Cabinet Office.

Responsibilities

According to its website, the HSG's responsibilities are:

• exercising the UK's response to a terrorist incident;
• developing legislation on terrorism here and overseas;
• providing security measures and protection packages for public figures;
• ensuring that the UK's critical national infrastructure is protected from attack (including electronic attack);
• ensuring that the UK is prepared to deal with a chemical, biological, or nuclear release; and
• liaising with government and emergency services during terrorist incidents or counter-terrorism operations.

Directors General

• Chloe Squires (April 1, 2021 – 2025) The first to hold the title of Director General for Homeland Security. She led the group through its transition from the OSCT until her departure in 2025. She 'has been with the Home Office since 2019 and has spent over a decade working across the national security community. Before joining the Home Office, she was Director of Strategy at the UK National Cyber Security Centre.'

'Prior to this appointment, she was Director National Security in the Home Office (from May 2019) and led on a range of national security issues including aspects of Counter-Terrorism, the domestic response to Hostile State Activity, implementation of the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act and associated oversight mechanisms, the operational relationship with MI5 and the use of national security related immigration and disruption powers.

After graduating with a degree in History from Oxford University, Chloe joined the UK Civil Service Fast Stream. She has spent most of her career working in the national security sphere on both domestic and international issues including stints in the FCDO and Cabinet Office. Amongst other areas she has led on NATO, national security legislation and compliance and crisis management. Cyber Security has been a theme throughout Chloe’s career, having jointly authored the UK’s first Cyber Security Strategy. She has since worked as both Director Cyber in the FCDO and as Director of Strategy, as part of the team who set up the NCSC in 2016 in GCHQ.

• Dr Michelle Haslem CMG (2025 – Present) The current Director General for Homeland Security, taking over the role in 2025 after previously serving as a Director General at the FCDO (2019 to 2025). She is reportedly 'a national security professional with 27 years’ experience gained from roles in the UK, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

References

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