The United Kingdom has long been an island under siege from terrorists who believe they can advance their aims through acts of violence. Protecting the public from the excesses of extremism remains the primary responsibility of government. For over a century Special Branch, MI5 and MI6 have prevented terrorist atrocities and have pursued those who wish to destroy the United Kingdom's free and democratic way of life. Yet, despite developing one of the world's most sophisticated security architectures, successful terrorist attacks have occurred with alarming regularity. For the very first time, this new volume explores the evolution of counter-terrorism practice in the United Kingdom, brought to life with dramatic case studies and personal insider accounts provided by leading policy makers, prosecutors and counter-terrorism practitioners who openly reveal the challenges and operational reality of countering contemporary terrorist threats. From the troubles in Northern Ireland to the al Qa'ida inspired genre of international terrorism, this volume plots the trajectory of counter-terrorism policy and practice exploring the events that have served to change the course of civil protection. This unique title is enriched by leading academic perspectives providing analysis of counter-terrorism responses and identifies lessons to be learned from the past, the present, as well as exploring the terrorist threats of the future to be tackled by the next generation of counter-terrorism practitioners. This accessible and authoritative volume is required reading for all in authority and academia who are concerned with national security, counter-terrorism and the law, as well as those with a vested interest in the preservation of human rights, the protection of civil liberties and democracy itself.

Written by bestselling finance author Guy Fraser-Sampson, this is a provocative account of the severe limitations of modern finance, advocating a bold new way forward for the finance industry. The Pillars of Finance is a lively and provocative read, challenging some of the core beliefs of modern finance.

Intelligent Investing is a one-stop-guide for investment professionals who need to better think though their investment rules, behaviour or procedures before allocating capital. History (and the collapse of several pension funds) has shown us that a high percentage of investments fail, and that more consideration needs to be put into key decisions such as passive vs. active management, dynamic vs. active asset allocation and manager selection and monitoring.
Written by a seasoned finance practitioner, this book will guide readers through everything they need to consider in the investment planning process, from identifying the risk/return profile (i.e. the type of investor you are), to understanding the key concepts - alpha, beta, liquidity and volatility, and rebalancing an investment portfolio. Readers will come away with clear and practical guidance on how to carry out a full strategic review of their investment plans, allowing them to better allocate their resources for maximum investment returns within their own defined risk parameters.

Intelligent Investing is first ever practical guide for investors on how to initiate and conduct a strategic planning exercise. Guy Fraser-Sampson explains the concepts and behavioural factors likely to be encountered, and shows how a clear understanding of an investor's strategic positioning flows naturally into good asset allocation practice.

Unfairly reviled, and much misunderstood, private equity differs from all other asset classes in various important respects, not least the way in which its fund mechanisms operate, and the way in which its returns are recorded and analysed. Sadly, high level asset allocation decisions are frequently made on the basis of prejudice and misinformation, rather than a proper appreciation of the facts. Guy Fraser-Sampson draws upon more than twenty years of experience of the private equity industry to provide a practical guide to mastering the intricacies of this highly specialist asset class. Aimed equally at investors, professionals and business school students, it starts with such fundamental questions as what is private equity? and progresses to detailed consideration of different types of private equity activity such as venture capital and buyout. Rapid and significant changes in the environment during the recent financial crisis have prompted the need for a new edition. Separate chapters have been added on growth and development capital, as well as secondary investing. Newly emergent issues are considered, such as lengthening holding periods and the possible threat of declining returns. Particular problems, such as the need to distinguish between private equity and hedge funds, are addressed. The glossary has also been expanded. In short, readers will find that this new edition takes their understanding of the asset class to new heights. Key points include: * A glossary of private equity terms * Venture capital * Buyout * Growth capital * Development capital * Secondary investing * Understanding private equity returns * Analysing funds and returns * How to plan a fund investment programme * Detailed discussion of industry performance figures

Various politicians present themselves as having the answers to our financial woes yet, as bestselling author Guy Fraser-Sampson shows, they are not part of the solution. They are the problem. His trenchant views have been heard frequently on radio and television programmes discussing the current situation. Here he sets out the facts supporting his belief that at every opportunity politicians choose the course of action which pursues their own short-term political ends, rather than doing what is right for the national long-term interest. In an entertaining mix of historical narrative and conceptual analysis, he argues that the present crisis has in fact been several decades in the making, and is the inevitable outcome of years of neglect and betrayal by those we have trusted to serve and govern us. As national debt reaches record levels around the world, and politicians continue to pile up fresh borrowings year after year, many are starting to ask just what, if anything, can be done to rescue us from the stark consequences of government folly.' The Mess We're In' will open your eyes to the true causes of the crisis, and suggest some radical common-sense measures to drag the world back from the edge of the abyss.

The UK's Law National Admissions Test (LNAT) entrance exam is now a requirement at many leading UK universities. This third edition provides a comprehensive and fully up-to-date guide for all those preparing to take the test. It has been thoroughly revised to take account of the recent changes to the test and to reflect the latest advice and guidance relevant for law school candidates. Readers will find all they need to face the exam with confidence, fulfilling their potential and succeeding in their application.

This welcome addition to EF Benson's hugely popular Mapp and Lucia series finds Major Flint in need of a new servant, Miss Mapp in need of a summer tenant, and Quaint Irene in need of a pint of bitter. Romantic entanglements stir the still waters of Tilling. Who is doing what to whom with a bottle of sesame oil? What is the truth behind the great Tilling chocolate cake mystery? Why does Major Flint need a loaded elephant gun? Did Miss Mapp really poison the Padre? Are Diva Plaistow's days as a single woman numbered? How will Mr Wyse measure up as a man of action? Oh yes, and what really happened to Lucy? Find the answers to these and much more in Major Benjy, the latest addition to the Mapp and Lucia canon by best-selling author Guy Fraser-Sampson. society, cunning plots are laid, and unforeseen complications ensue. Perfect reading for followers of Benson's original novels and sure to be equally loved by P.G. Wodehouse fans, this is a pitch-perfect and deliciously enjoyable social satire of an England long gone but not forgotten.

The genteel facade of London's Hampstead is shattered by a series of terrifying murders, and the ensuing police hunt is threatened by internal politics, and a burgeoning love triangle within the investigative team. Pressurised by senior officers desperate for a result a new initiative is clearly needed, but what? Intellectual analysis and police procedure vie with the gut instinct of 'copper's nose', and help appears to offer itself from a very unlikely source a famous fictional detective. A psychological profile of the murderer allows the police to narrow down their search, but will Scotland Yard lose patience with the team before they can crack the case? Praised by fellow authors and readers alike, this is a truly original crime story, speaking to a contemporary audience yet harking back to the Golden Age of detective fiction. Intelligent, quirky and mannered, it has been described as 'a love letter to the detective novel'. Above it all hovers Hampstead, a magical village evoking the elegance of an earlier time, and the spirit of mystery-solving detectives. Guy Fraser-Sampson is an established writer best known for his series of Mapp and Lucia novels which have been featured on BBC Radio 4 and optioned by BBC television. This is his debut work of detective fiction, and the first title in the Hampstead Murders series.

The second in the Hampstead Murders series opens with a sudden death at an iconic local venue, which some of the team believe may be connected with an unsolved murder featuring Cold War betrayals worthy of George Smiley. It soon emerges that none other than Agatha Christie herself may be the key witness who is able to provide the missing link. As with its bestselling predecessor, Death in Profile, the book develops the lives and loves of the team at 'Hampstead Nick'. While the next phase of a complicated love triangle plays itself out, the protagonists, struggling to crack not one but two apparently insoluble murders, face issues of national security in working alongside Special Branch. On one level a classic whodunit, this quirky and intelligent read harks back not only to the world of Agatha Christie, but also to the Cold War thrillers of John Le Carre, making it a worthy successor to Death in Profile which was dubbed 'a love letter to the detective novel'.