The Terrorism Act in 2014 - Report

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT REVIEWER ON THE OPERATION OF THE TERRORISM ACT 2000 AND PART 1 OF THE TERRORISM ACT 2006

by

DAVID ANDERSON Q.C. Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation

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THE YEAR IN SUMMARY

•  Global terrorist casualties increased sharply, with ISIL and Boko Haram the chief perpetrators. There were no Islamist or extreme right wing terrorist attacks in the UK during 2014 but numerous Northern Ireland-related incidents, some of them potentially deadly (Chapter 2).

•  The threat level from “international terrorism” was increased in August 2014 to “severe”, indicating that attacks were highly likely. The following months saw attacks in other western countries and the interruption of several life-threatening terrorist operations in the UK (Chapter 2).

•  11 new groups were proscribed in 2014, two name-change orders made and two deproscription applications refused (Chapter 4).

•  The use of TA 2000 section 43 in London and Northern Ireland continued to decline; the no-suspicion section 47A stop and search power was not used at all (Chapter 5).

•  Port examinations have declined by 60% over five years but produced some useful results, including in relation to the safeguarding of vulnerable people travelling to Syria. The Supreme Court has commented on the exercise of TA 2000 Schedule 7 powers (Chapter 6).

•  Terrorism-related arrests were more frequent in both Great Britain and Northern Ireland, notably of 18-20 year olds in Great Britain. There were high numbers of terrorism charges and convictions in Great Britain, with a sharp rise in prosecutions for activity overseas (Chapter 7).

•  Three sentences of 10 or more years were imposed in England under TA 2006 section 5 for preparing acts of terrorism, one on a neo-Nazi and two on men who travelled to Syria (Chapter 8).

•  A Counter-Extremism Bill was planned to supplement existing offences, including under the Terrorism Acts (Chapter 9).

•  The scope of Independent Reviewer’s functions was increased, and some additional assistance is to be provided (Chapter 10).