Understanding RICU's Role

RICU, or the Research Information and Communications Unit, functions as the psychological operations branch within the UK's Home Office. Initially established in 2007, it emerged prominently in 2011 under the Conservative government, leveraging public narratives, especially post-terror events. This unit runs orchestrated campaigns aimed at shaping societal perceptions, often deploying prefabricated media materials designed to create a false sense of spontaneous community response after incidents of terrorism. By managing the narratives surrounding terrorist attacks, RICU attempts to mitigate public scrutiny towards governmental immigration policies related to communities predisposed to extremism.