Charles Farr (civil servant)

Charles Farr (born 1959) is a British former civil servant who held several senior positions in the UK government, primarily related to national security and intelligence.

Farr is best known for his role as Director General, Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism (OSCT) at the Home Office from 2007 to 2015. In this position, he was responsible for overseeing the UK's counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST. His responsibilities included coordinating various government departments and agencies involved in counter-terrorism efforts, setting policy, and managing resources.

Prior to his role at the Home Office, Farr served in a variety of positions within the intelligence community, including roles at GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters). Details of his earlier career are limited due to the sensitive nature of his work.

Since leaving the civil service, Farr has held advisory roles and engaged in public commentary on security issues. He has occasionally provided his expert opinion on matters related to counter-terrorism and national security policy in media appearances and publications.

Farr's time as Director General of OSCT coincided with a period of significant evolution in the UK's counter-terrorism policies and approaches, encompassing responses to both domestic and international threats.