Accredited official statistics

Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation: Arrests, outcomes, and stop and search Great Britain, year ending December 2020

Published 4 March 2021

Frequency of release: Quarterly

Forthcoming release: Home Office statistics release calendar

Home Office responsible statistician: John Flatley

Press enquiries: [email protected], telephone 020 7035 3535

Public enquiries: [email protected]

Privacy information notice

Key results

There were 185 arrests for terrorism-related activity in the year ending 31 December 2020, 97 fewer than in the previous 12-month period (a fall of 34%). This was mainly due to a reduction in arrests under non-terrorism legislation.

Graph showing number of arrests by year and legislation. The total number of arrests initially fell in the late 2000’s, reaching a low in 2010. They then increased until 2017. Since 2017, arrests have fallen again, and in 2020 are now below the average for the entire time series.

Of the 185 arrests for terrorist-related activity:

• 56 (30%) resulted in a charge, of which 48 were for terrorism-related offences
• 73 (39%) persons were released pending further investigation
• 40 people (22%) were released without charge
• 13 (7%) faced alternative action, for example receiving a caution or recalled to prison.
• 3 (2%) cases were awaiting an outcome to be assigned

1. Introduction

1.1 Time period covered and data sources

This release covers the use of police powers under terrorism and subsequent legislation in Great Britain on a quarterly basis up to the year ending 31 December 2020. It also covers arrests for terrorist-related activity under other legislation such as the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE).

The statistics in this release draw on a range of data sources. The Arrests and outcomes section contains data provided by the National Counter Terrorism Police Operations Centre (NCTPOC) and includes statistics for Great Britain on the:

• number of arrests for terrorist-related activity and outcomes (such as charges and convictions) following such arrests
• number of charges and convictions broken down by legislation used
• gender, age, ethnicity and nationality of those arrested, charged and convicted

The Court proceedings section uses data from the Crown Prosecution Service Counter Terrorism Division (CPS CTD) and includes statistics for England and Wales on the:

• number of persons proceeded against by CPS CTD for terrorism-related offences
• number of persons that have been prosecuted and convicted broken down by the legislation used
• sentence length of those convicted for terrorism-related offences

The Terrorist prisoners section uses data from HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), and includes statistics for Great Britain on the:

• number and ideology of persons in custody for Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT)-connected offences
• ethnicity, nationality and religion of those in custody
• number of persons released from custody by sentence length

The Other police powers under TACT 2000 section uses data provided by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the National Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters (NCTPHQ), and includes statistics on the:

• number of stops and searches carried out by MPS under s.43 of TACT 2000
• number of stops and searches carried out by police under s.47a of TACT 2000
• number of examinations and subsequent detentions made in Great Britain under Schedule 7 to TACT 2000
• data on goods examinations, strip searches and on refusals of requests to postpone questioning (usually to enable an individual to consult a solicitor) under Schedule 7 to TACT 2000
• the number of cordons under s.33 of TACT 2000

From the year ending June 2019 publication onwards, data have also been collected and published on the total number of examinations and detentions made in the United Kingdom as a whole under Schedule 7 to TACT 2000, as well as how many examinations related to intra-UK journeys. An intra-UK examination is when a person has been examined under Schedule 7 TACT at a UK port either before or after a journey between one UK port and another UK port. This includes journeys between or within England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Furthermore, data have also been provided on how frequently other powers have been used in Great Britain under Schedule 7, to restrict or qualify a person’s access to a solicitor. Including: required to consult a solicitor by phone, delayed access to a solicitor, and required to consult in sight and hearing of a qualified officer.

The user guide provides further details on this release, including the strengths and limitations of the datasets, and the quality assurance processes involved in the production of this release. It also includes a summary of the criminal justice process, a glossary of terms used, and detail about the legislation and categories referred to in this release.

A flow chart summarising the Arrests and outcomes section of this release can be found in Annex A.

1.2 Future releases

The information published in the quarterly ‘Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000’ statistics is kept under review, taking into account the needs of users, and burdens on suppliers and producers, in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics If you have any comments, suggestions or enquiries, please contact the team via email using: [email protected].

1.3 National Statistics status

This publication has been assessed by the United Kingdom Statistics Authority and its National Statistics designation was confirmed in May 2016. This means that these statistics meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, impartiality, quality and public value, and are fully compliant with the Code of Practice for Statistics. As part of the assessment process, the Home Office reviewed and improved the user guide that accompanies this release. This now contains more details about the strengths and limitations of the various datasets within the publication, as well as the steps taken to engage with users. Further details on the assessment process can be found on the UK Statistics Authority website.

2. Arrests and outcomes

Key results

• in the year ending 31 December 2020, there were 185 arrests for terrorist-related activity in Great Britain, 97 fewer than in the previous 12-month period (a fall of 34%); this was largely due to a reduction in arrests under non-terrorism legislation between April and December 2020
• 56 arrests resulted in a charge (30%), of which 48 were for terrorism-related offences

This section presents statistics on the number of persons arrested by the police in Great Britain where there was suspicion of involvement in terrorist-related activity, either at the time of arrest or at a subsequent point in the investigation. In some cases, evidence may emerge after an arrest for a terrorism-related offence that suggests a suspect does not have links to terrorist activity but has committed a non-terrorism-related offence. These cases are included in the data as non-terrorism-related charges and or convictions.

Prior to the June 2018 publication (covering the period to 31 March 2018), data in this release was restricted to arrests where the offence was considered to be related to terrorism. In response to feedback from stakeholders, Home Office statisticians widened the scope of the data collection to include all arrests with a terrorist element whether the offence was terrorism-related or not. This better reflects policing activity in recent years. Data in this release now contain information on all arrests related to terrorism activity, including a full back series.

Since the December 2019 publication (covering the period to 30 September 2019), postal charge requisitions and summonses have been included as part of the figures on arrests. This decision was taken following engagement with NCTPHQ, as the postal charge requisitions and summonses can lead to terrorism-related charges and convictions. See the user guide for more detail.

Outcomes following arrests for terrorist-related activity are also included in the statistics, which show the number of arrests that led to a charge or prosecution as well as other outcomes. Demographic information about those arrested, charged and convicted is also provided in this section. All data in this section are based on the date of arrest. This allows users to see the outcomes of all the arrests in a specific period (such as how many led to a charge and conviction).

As cases progress over time, figures published in this release are likely to be revised. This is particularly relevant for more recent time periods where a larger number of cases will have not been finalised (‘released on bail’ or ‘awaiting prosecution’). The effect on the arrests total will be minimal but the number of charges and convictions currently reported will increase in future releases, especially for cases from the more recent quarters where a greater number have not yet reached the point of charge or conviction.

Data are provided to the Home Office by the National Counter Terrorism Police Operations Centre (NCTPOC) and are taken from a live database. This section includes annual breakdowns of the data from the 11 September 2001 (when the data collection began) to year ending December 2020, as well as quarterly trends over the most recent 9 quarters. The data were based on the latest position of each case as at the time of provision to the Home Office (on 14 January 2021).

A flow chart summarising this section is included in Annex A. This follows individuals from the point of arrest through to charge (or other outcome) and prosecution. Data tables A.01 to A.13 include data on arrests and outcomes. Annual tables, which breakdown the data by rolling years to December, are also provided alongside this release.

2.1 Arrests

In the year ending 31 December 2020, there were 185 arrests for terrorist-related activity in Great Britain, 97 fewer than the previous 12-month period (a fall of 34%). This was the lowest number of arrests for terrorist-related activity in the last nine years to December and is below the annual average of 256 arrests over the entire time series (Figure 2.1).

Figure 2.1: Arrests for terrorist-related activity, by legislation, years ending 31 December 2002 to 31 December 2020, Great Britain^1,2,3

Source: NCTPOC (see data table A.01)
Notes:

1. Figures for the year ending 31 December 2002 include data from 11 September 2001 onwards.
2. ‘Other legislation’ includes arrests under non-terrorism legislation, such as the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
3. Includes arrests that are considered by the NCTPOC to be terrorism-related, either at the time of arrest or at a subsequent point in the investigation.

Graph showing number of arrests by year and legislation. The total number of arrests initially fell in the late 2000’s, reaching a low in 2010. They then increased until 2017. Since 2017, arrests have fallen again, and in 2020 are now below the average for the entire time series.

The number of arrests in all quarters of 2020 were below the average number of arrests in the last 9 quarters (59) (Figure 2.2). The reductions were most evident in arrests under non-terrorism legislation and may reflect the general reduction in crime during this period when there were public health restrictions in place to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus^{[footnote 1]}. This effect was most marked in April to June 2020 during the national lockdowns in England and Wales with just 31 arrests in that quarter. As restrictions were eased over the summer months, the number of arrests increased (for example, up to 53 arrests in the latest quarter).

Figure 2.2: Arrests for terrorist-related activity, by legislation, 9 quarters to 31 December 2020, Great Britain^1,2

Source: NCTPOC (see data table Q.01)
Notes:

1. ‘Other legislation’ includes arrests under non-terrorism legislation, such as the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
2. Includes arrests that are considered by the NCTPOC to be terrorism-related, either at the time of arrest or at a subsequent point in the investigation.

Graph showing number of arrests, by legislation, for the 9 quarters to December 2020. April to June 2020 and July to September 2020 saw the lowest and second lowest number of arrests in the last 9 quarters. As restrictions were eased over the summer months, the number of arrests increased (for example, up to 53 arrests in the latest quarter).

2.2 Pre-charge detention under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000

Once a suspect has been arrested by the police, they may be held for a specified period of time before being charged, giving the police time to investigate and gather evidence related to potential terrorism offences. The current maximum period of detention under s.41 of TACT 2000 is 14 days (which reduced from the previous limit of 28 days on 25 January 2011). This compares with a maximum of 4 days under standard arrest powers. Further details of the legislation can be found in the user guide.

There were 26 detentions under s.41 of TACT 2000 in the year ending 31 December 2020, a 41% fall compared with the previous year, in which there were 44 detentions. Of the 26 detentions in the latest year, 13 led to a charge (50%)

Further details on the length and outcomes of detentions under s.41 of TACT 2000 can be found in data table A.02.

2.3 Charges

In line with the general convention for Home Office criminal justice statistics, when a person is charged or prosecuted for multiple offences at the same time, only the most serious offence is counted – usually the one that carries the highest penalty. This “principal offence rule” means the statistics provide a count of individuals charged rather than the total number of charges. More detailed information on the principal offence rule can be found in the accompanying user guide. Further details of the legislation under which persons have been charged following an arrest for a terrorism-related activity can be found in data tables A.05a-c.

Of the 185 arrests for terrorist-related activity in the year ending 31 December 2020:

• 56 (30%) resulted in a charge, of which 48 were charged with terrorism-related offences
• 73 (39%) persons were either released under bail pending further investigation or released under investigation without bail conditions
• 40 people (22%) were released without charge
• 13 (7%) faced alternative action, for example receiving a caution or being recalled to prison
• 3 cases (2%) were awaiting an outcome to be assigned at the time of analysis

Given the number of cases still to be finalised in the latest year, the current charge rate shown in the more recent years and quarters is likely to be lower than final figures which will be published in subsequent releases. Until all cases in a given period are finalised, care should be taken when comparing charge rates over time.

Figure 2.3: Charging outcomes following an arrest for terrorist-related activity, 9 quarters to 31 December 2020, Great Britain^1,2

Source: NCTPOC (see data table A.03)
Notes:

1. ‘Alternative action’ includes cautions for non-TACT 2000 offences, detentions under the Mental Health Act, recall to prison etc.
2. ‘Bailed to return’ includes those released on bail pending further investigation, and those who have absconded from bail. Those who were released under investigation were previously unable to be recorded separately and were recorded as ‘released without charge’.

Graph showing charging outcomes following an arrest, by proportion, for the 9 quarters to 31 December 2020. Of the 185 arrests in the latest year, 30% have been charged, 39% are on bail or under investigation without bail conditions, 22% were released without charge, 7% faced alternative action and 2% were awaiting an outcome to be assigned. The charge rate is likely to increase as more cases are finalised.

Figure 2.4: Charging outcomes following an arrest for terrorist-related activity, year ending December 2002 to December 2020, Great Britain^1,2

Source: NCTPOC (see data table A.03)
Notes:

1. ‘Alternative action’ includes cautions for non-TACT offences, detentions under the Mental Health Act, recall to prison, and transfers to immigration authorities.
2. ‘Bailed to return’ includes those released on bail pending further investigations, and those who have absconded from bail. Those who were released under investigation were previously unable to be recorded separately and were recorded as ‘released without charge’.

Graph showing by number of arrests, by charging outcome, for the years ending December 2002 to December 2020. Of the 185 arrests for terrorist-related activity in the year ending 31 December 2020: 56 resulted in a charge. 73 persons were either released under bail pending further investigation or released under investigation without bail conditions. 40 people were released without charge. 16 faced alternative action or were awaiting an outcome to be assigned at the time of analysis.

2.4 Prosecutions

As with charges, statistics on prosecutions are also based on the principal offence rule (see section 2.3). Where an individual is prosecuted for more than one offence at a time, they are classified in terms of a single offence – usually the most serious.

Figure 2.5 shows the outcomes following a charge for a terrorism-related offence.

Further details of the specific legislation under which persons have been convicted following a charge for a terrorism-related offence can be found in data tables A.08a-c.

Figure 2.5: Outcomes following a charge for a terrorism-related offence, year ending 31 December 2020^1,2,3,4, Great Britain

Source: NCTPOC (see data table A.06c)
Notes:

1. Based on the time of arrest.
2. A more detailed flow chart can be found in Annex A.
3. Data presented are based on the latest position with each case as at the date of data provision from NCTPOC (14 January 2021).
4. The chart does not include outcomes following non-terrorism-related charges.
5. Terrorism-related charges and convictions include some charges and convictions under non-terrorism legislation, where the offence is considered to be terrorism-related.
6. Cases that are ‘awaiting prosecution’ are not yet complete. As time passes, these cases will eventually lead to a prosecution, ‘other’ outcome, or it may be decided that the individual will not be proceeded against.
7. Excludes convictions that were later quashed on appeal.
8. Includes other cases and outcomes such as cautions, transfers to UK Border Agencies, the offender being circulated as wanted and extraditions.

Flow chart showing outcomes following a charge of a terrorism-related offence. In the year ending 31 December 2020, there were 48 people charged with a terrorism-related offence. Of these, 22 were prosecuted, 23 are awaiting prosecution, 2 were not proceeded against and 1 received another outcome. Of the 22 prosecutions, 20 led to convictions and two were found not guilty. All 20 convictions were for terrorism-related offences.

2.5 Demographics of persons arrested

This section provides more detail on the demographic and other characteristics of persons arrested. It includes data on:

• sex
• age
• ethnic appearance
• nationality.

Sex

As in previous years, and similar to other types of crime, the vast majority of those arrested for terrorism-related activity were males. However, 19 of the 183 arrests where sex was known were females (10%). This was a fall of 12 arrests compared with previous 12-month period, and the lowest proportion of females arrested since the year ending December 2014. The total number of females arrested was under the annual average arrested (24) over the entire time series.

Age

As in previous years, the ‘30 and over’ age-group accounted for most arrests (49%). There were falls in the number of arrests across all age-groups apart from the ‘Under 18s’, which increased by 7 (from 12 to 19), compared with the previous year. Among those who were arrested, 10% of were aged under 18 (up from 4% in the previous year). While this was the highest proportion seen in an annual period, it was largely a result of falls in arrests of those in older age-groups.

Ethnic appearance as recorded by the arresting officer

Figures in this section are based on the ethnic appearance of the arrestee as recorded by the arresting officer.

There were falls in the number of arrests across all ethnic groups when compared with the previous year. Arrests for those of White ethnic appearance decreased by 24% (down from 117 arrests to 89 arrests). There was also a 32% decrease in the number of arrests of people of Black ethnic appearance (from 22 arrests to 15) and a 43% decrease in the number of arrests of people of Asian ethnic appearance (from 111 arrests to 63). The number of arrests of people of Other ethnic appearance fell by 44% (from 32 arrests to 18 arrests).

The proportion of White people arrested exceeded the proportion of Asian people arrested for the third consecutive year. Arrests of persons of White ethnic appearance accounted for 48% of arrests, up 7 percentage points on the previous year. Those of Asian ethnic appearance accounted for 34% of terrorist-related arrests, down 5 percentage points. The proportion of those arrested who were of Black ethnic appearance was 8%, the same proportion as in the previous year. Those of ‘Other’ ethnic appearance accounted for 10% of arrests, down 2 percentage points on the previous year.

Figure 2.6: Proportion of persons arrested for terrorist-related activity by ethnic appearance^1,2, year ending 31 December 2019 and 31 December 2020, compared with total proportions since 11 September 2001

Source: NCTPOC (see data table A.11)
Notes:

1. As recorded by the police at time of arrest.
2. Excludes those whose ethnicity is not known.

Proportion of persons arrested for terrorist-related activity by ethnic appearance, year ending 31 December 2019 and 31 December 2020, compared with total proportions since 11 September 2001. In the year ending December 2020, arrests of persons of White ethnic appearance accounted for 48% of arrests, up 7 percentage points on the previous year. Those of Asian ethnic appearance accounted for 34% of terrorist-related arrests, and those of Black ethnic appearance was 8%. The proportion of those arrested who were of ‘Other’ ethnic appearance was 10%.

Nationality

Of those arrested in the latest year, 81% considered themselves to be of British or British dual nationality, up ten percentage points on the previous year and the highest proportion in a calendar year since the data collection began. The proportion increased from 33% in the year ending December 2002 to 80% in the year ending December 2014, and has not fallen below 66% since. Overall, since 11 September 2001 (when the data collection began), 62% of those arrested considered themselves to be of British or British dual nationality (Table 2.1).

Table 2.1: Number of persons arrested for terrorist-related activity, since 11 September 2001, by self-defined nationality^1,2
Numbers & percentages, Great Britain

Self-defined nationality	Total since Sep 11 2001	Proportion of all arrests (%)
Great Britain3	2,996	62
Algeria	194	4
Iraq	173	4
Pakistan	170	4
Iran	92	2
Afghanistan	92	2
Somalia	83	2
Turkey	83	2
India	61	1
Sri Lanka	58	1

Source: NCTPOC (see data table A.12a)
Notes:

1. The nationalities presented here are those declared by persons at the time of arrest and may differ from their country of origin.
2. Only the first 10 countries, by number of persons arrested for terrorist-related activity, are included in the table.
3. Figures for Great Britain include those with ‘British dual’ nationality.

3. Court proceedings

Key results

• in the year ending 31 December 2020, 54 persons were tried for terrorism-related offences, the same number as the previous year
• of the 54 persons tried for terrorism-related offences, 49 were convicted (91%)
• of the 49 persons convicted of terrorism-related offences, 30 (61%) pleaded guilty and 19 (39%) entered a not-guilty plea

This section presents statistics on prosecutions for terrorism-related offences in England and Wales. It provides data on the number of persons prosecuted and convicted, including information on the legislation under which they were prosecuted. It also provides information on the length and type of sentence that each convicted person received. Data in this section are based on the trial completion date and are not directly comparable to the prosecutions data in section 2, Arrests and outcomes, which is based on the date of arrest.

Data are provided to the Home Office by the Crown Prosecution Service Counter Terrorism Division (CPS CTD). The data cover terrorism-related court cases that were completed in the 11 years from the year ending December 2010 up to the year ending December 2020.

3.1 Court proceedings

In the year ending 31 December 2020, 54 persons were tried for terrorism-related offences, the same number as in the previous year, but a fall of 32 (37%) from the peak of 86 trials in the year ending December 2017 (data table C.01). This peak in court proceedings in the year ending December 2017 followed on from the highest volume of terrorism-related arrests in that year (as discussed in chapter 2).

During 2020, there has been an increase in the overall backlog of court cases, due to COVID-19^{[footnote 2]}. However, the number of persons proceeded against by the Crown Prosecution Service for terrorism-related offences has remained fairly consistent during this period, reflecting that these more serious offences have been prioritised.

Of the 54 persons tried for terrorism-related offences, 49 were convicted. Figure 3.1 shows the outcomes for the 54 persons proceeded against.

Figure 3.1: Outcome of terrorism-related trials under TACT and non-TACT legislation, year ending 31 December 2020, England and Wales¹

Source: CPS CTD (see data tables C.01-C.03)
Notes:

1. Based on the principal offence for which the defendant was prosecuted against.
2. TACT offences include offences specifically under terrorism legislation.
3. Non-TACT offences include offences under other legislation.
4. Can include trials ending in a hung jury, or where the prosecution offered no evidence.

Flow chart showing outcome of terrorism-related trials. In the year ending 31 December 2020, 54 persons were tried for terrorism-related offences, 49 for TACT offences, and 5 for non-TACT offences. Of the 49 persons tried for TACT offences, 45 were convicted and 4 were acquitted. Of the 5 persons tried for non-TACT offences, 4 were convicted and 1 was acquitted.

3.2 Sentencing

The most common sentence length in the latest year was of less than 4 years, which accounted for 45% of sentences. Of these, 13 sentences were between 1 and 4 years (27% of total), and 9 were less than a year (18% of total). There were also 15 sentence lengths between 4 and 10 years, accounting for 31% of sentences (15 of 49 convictions).

Those given a life sentence accounted for 6% of all those sentenced in the latest year (3 sentences), the same number as the previous year. There was 1 sentence of 10 years or more, a decrease of 5 compared with the previous year.

The number of non-custodial sentences increased from 1 to 7 in the latest year. Although this is a large change from the previous year, this sentence type made up a similar proportion of sentences as in 2018. There was also 1 hospital order in the latest year, the same as the previous year.

Of the 49 persons convicted of terrorism-related offences, 30 (61%) pleaded guilty and 19 (39%) entered a not-guilty plea. This is a similar proportion as to in the previous year, when 28 of the 47 persons convicted (60%) entered a guilty plea.

Figure 3.2: Sentence length for persons convicted for terrorism-related offences, year ending 31 December 2020 compared with the previous year, England and Wales^1,2

Source: CPS CTD (see data table C.04)
Notes:

1. Based on the trial completion date.
2. The ‘Other’ category includes hospital orders and non-custodial sentence

Graph showing sentence length by number of convictions, for year ending December 2020 and year ending December 2019.

4. Terrorist prisoners

Key results

• as at 31 December 2020, there were 209 persons in custody for terrorism-connected offences in Great Britain
• of those in custody, the vast majority (75%) were categorised as holding Islamist-extremist views. A further 20% were categorised as holding far right-wing ideologies
• a total of 42 prisoners held for terrorism-related or terrorism-connected offences were released from custody in Great Britain in the latest year for which figures are available (year ending 30 September 2020)

Statistics presented in this section give information on the number of persons in custody for terrorism-connected offences in Great Britain. This includes both those that had been convicted and those being held on remand (that is, held in custody until a later date when a trial or sentencing hearing will take place). This section includes breakdowns of their ethnicity, nationality, ideology and religion.

Prior to June 2018, the Home Office published figures on both terrorist prisoners and domestic extremist or separatist prisoners. However, following feedback from data providers at HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), it was decided that prisoners categorised as ‘domestic extremist or separatist’ prisoners would be counted within the ‘TACT or TACT-related’ cohort, where the threshold for this is met, i.e. for offences which the court has determined have a terrorist connection. This was to remove the previous subjectivity around the categorisation of domestic extremist prisoners.

From September 2020 onwards, the Ministry of Justice and Home Office have formally adopted the definition ‘Terrorism-Connected Offender’. This definition replaces the previously used definition ‘Terrorism-Related Offender’ which will no longer be used for the purposes of publishing official statistics for terrorist prisoners. The change in definition between the publication of statistics as at 30 June 2020 and 30 September 2020 caused roughly 10% of prisoners to be removed from the classification at that point. For this reason, figures for September 2020 onwards are not directly comparable with previous years or quarters.

This definition changes is in alignment with Part 2 of Schedule 19ZA of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (as inserted by the Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act 2020), which concerns those offenders who have not committed terrorist offences (that is, those listed in Part 1 of the Schedule) but who have committed other specified offences which the court has determined have a ‘terrorist connection’. That determination may only be made by the sentencing court in accordance with Part 3 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 and only after consideration of the requirements specified in that Act.

Data were provided to the Home Office by HMPPS and the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), giving information about the prison population for the 11 years from 31 March 2010 to 31 December 2020, and also at the end of the 9 quarters to 31 December 2020. Data on the number of prisoners released cover the 9 quarters to 30 September 2020. Prisoner release figures up to 31 December 2020 are not yet available as these will form a subset of the prison releases statistics which will be published by the Ministry of Justice in their Offender management statistics quarterly release in April 2021.

4.1 Persons in custody

As at 31 December 2020, there were 209 persons in custody for terrorism-connected offences in Great Britain. Of these, 184 had been convicted (88%). The remaining 12% were being held on remand (held in custody until a later date when a trial or sentencing hearing will take place).

Of those in custody, 156 (75%) were categorised as holding Islamist-extremist views. A further 42 (20%) were categorised as holding far right-wing ideologies with the remaining 11 prisoners (5%) holding beliefs related to other ideologies.

4.2 Persons released from custody

A total of 42 terrorist prisoners were released from custody in Great Britain in the latest year for which figures were available (year ending 30 September 2020)^{[footnote 3]}. This figure includes 30 terrorism-related offenders related between October 2019 and June 2020 and 12 terrorism-connected offenders released between July and September 2020.

Of these, 31 (74%) were persons released from custody after serving sentences, many of whom will be subject to meeting certain licence conditions.

Of the 42 released from custody, 16 had received sentences of less than 4 years, and 15 had sentences of 4 years or more (including one life sentence). No one was released following an indeterminate sentence for public protection. Eleven people had been convicted but not yet been sentenced.

5. Other police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000

Key results

• in the year ending 31 December 2020, 524 persons were stopped and searched by the Metropolitan Police Service under s.43 of TACT 2000. This was a decrease of 21% compared with the previous year’s total of 663
• in the latest year, there were 57 arrests resulting from a s.43 stop and search, down 12% on the previous year (65)
• in the latest year, 3,315 persons were subject to the use of Schedule 7 to TACT 2000 in Great Britain; this was a fall of 65% compared with the previous year (when there were 9,543 examinations)

This section presents statistics on the use of stop and search powers available to the police under the Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT 2000). It includes data on the number of stop and searches, and resultant arrests, carried out under s.43 of TACT 2000 (by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) only) and s.47A of TACT 2000 (by all police forces). It also contains data on the use of powers under Schedule 7 to TACT 2000 in Great Britain. This includes the number of examinations, resultant detentions, strip-searches, the number of times postponement of questioning (usually to enable an individual to consult a solicitor) was refused, and the number of sea and air freight examinations.

Data on s.47a stop and search are provided to the Home Office by police forces, and data on s.43 stop and search are currently provided on a quarterly basis for this release by MPS only. S.43 stop and search figures for other forces are published annually by the Home Office in the Police powers and procedures release. Data on Schedule 7 are provided to the Home Office by the National Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters (NCTPHQ). This section includes annual breakdowns for the last 9 years (when the data collection began) up to the year ending December 2020.

Following the Parsons Green attack, on 15 September 2017, the police used the power of stop and search under s.47a of TACT 2000 (previously s.44) for the first time. This power allows the police to exercise stop and searches when there is reasonable suspicion an act of terrorism will take place, and only when such powers are considered necessary to prevent such an act taking place. This was the first time they had been used in Great Britain since the legislation was formally amended in 2011. Following the attack on Parsons Green, 4 forces authorised the use of these powers: British Transport Police, City of London Police, North Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Police. There was a total of 128 stops (126 of which were conducted by BTP) resulting in 4 arrests (all BTP).

Further details on the use of s.47a can be found in the code of practice for the exercise of stop and search powers.

5.1 Stop and search under Section 43 of the Terrorism Act 2000

Section 43 of TACT 2000 allows a constable to stop and search a person whom he, she reasonably suspects to be involved in terrorist activity. This section includes data from MPS only and excludes ‘vehicle only’ stops and searches.

There was a large reduction in the use of s.43 stops between 2011 (when the data collection began) and 2014, during which time numbers fell 63% (down from 1,052 to 394 stops). There was then a general increase in the next three years, up to a total of 776 stops in 2017. In the year ending 31 December 2020, 524 persons were stopped and searched by MPS under s.43 of TACT 2000, a decrease of 21% when compared with 663 in the year ending 31 December 2019.

In the latest year, there were 57 arrests resulting from a s.43 stop and search, down 8 (12%) on the previous year’s total of 65. 11% of stops resulted in arrest, up from 10% in the previous year.

Ethnicity was only stated in 68% of stops in the latest year, the lowest proportion since data collection began in 2011. The number of cases where ethnicity was known was at its highest at 93% in 2013 and has steadily declined since. This information relies on the person stopped being willing to define their ethnicity and the officer recording it accurately.

In cases where the ethnicity was known:

• 39% identified as ‘White or White British’
• 31% identified as ‘Asian or Asian British’
• 16% identified as ‘Black or Black British’
• 11% identified as ‘Chinese or Other’
• 4% identified as ‘Mixed’

Figure 5.1: Stop and searches under s.43 of TACT 2000, MPS

Source: MPS (see data table S.01)
Notes:

1. Excludes ‘vehicle only’ searches.

The graph shows number of stop and searches under section 43, by year, and whether the search resulted in arrest. There was initially a large decline in use of stop and search from 2011 to 2014. Number of searches then rose again until 2017. Since 2017 the number of searches have fallen again.

Figure 5.2: Arrest rate following top and searches under s.43 of TACT 2000, MPS

Source: MPS (see data table S.01)
Notes:

1. Excludes ‘vehicle only’ searches.

The graph shows arrest rate by year. Arrest rate rose from less than 3% in 2011 to 10% in 2016. In 2020, 9% of stops resulted in arrest.

Details on the overall use of stop and search in England and Wales can be found in the Home Office Police powers and procedures, England and Wales statistical release. MPS also publishes monthly reports on the use of stop and search within its force area.

5.2 Schedule 7 to TACT 2000

Under Schedule 7 to TACT 2000, an examining office has a number of powers, the uses of which are covered in this section. These include:

• examinations of persons and resultant detentions
• strip-searches
• refusals to postpone questioning (usually to enable an individual to consult a solicitor)
• examinations of goods

Data have also been provided on how frequently other powers have been used in Great Britain under Schedule 7 to restrict or qualify a person’s access to a solicitor. As well as ‘refusal to postpone questioning’, which has been published since 2016, this release now also covers use of powers where a person is:

• required to consult a solicitor by phone
• delayed access to a solicitor
• or required to consult in sight and hearing of a qualified officer

Examinations and resultant detentions

An examining officer may stop and question individuals entering and leaving the country through ports, airports, international rail stations and the border area. When necessary they may also detain and search individuals. The aim is to determine whether or not that person is or has been concerned with the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

In the year ending 31 December 2020, a total of 3,315 persons were subject to the use of this power in Great Britain. This was a fall of 65% compared with the previous year (when there were 9,543 examinations), and 94% since the data were first collected in the year ending 31 December 2012 (when 60,127 persons were examined under Schedule 7). Prior to the most recent year there had been average annual falls of 23%.

There has been increased public scrutiny of this power in recent years, which may have driven a more targeted approach in its use. This is reflected in the increased rate of detention (see Figure 5.3).

There was a large reduction in examinations under Schedule 7 of TACT 2000 earlier this year due to the lockdown measures imposed during the COVID-19 outbreak. Passenger numbers at air and sea ports in particular saw unprecedented low levels, with only 281 examinations between April and June 2020, compared with 2,527 between April and June 2019. In the latest quarter (October to December 2020) this increased to 708 examinations, however this was still only 38% of the number of examinations carried out in the same quarter of the previous year.

Ethnicity was stated in 82% of cases, the lowest proportion since data collection began in 2011. Where ethnicity was known:

• 32% identified as ‘Chinese or other’
• 31% identified as ‘Asian or Asian British’
• 21% identified as ‘White’
• 10% identified as ‘Black or Black British’
• 6% identified as ‘Mixed’

Since 2013 the proportion of White people examined has decreased from 45% to 21%. In the same period the proportion of people who identified as ‘Chinese or Other’ increased from 18% to 32%. However, the proportion of White people detained has increased from 12% in 2013 to 16% in 2020.

The number of detentions following examination decreased by 43% from 2,082 in the previous year to 1,191 in the latest. Prior to this year the number of detentions following examination had increased for three years in a row, despite the decreasing number of examinations over that period. The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which came into effect in October 2014, amended the powers under Schedule 7 to TACT 2000 to ensure that a mandatory detention takes place where an examination lasts for longer than 1 hour. The rate of detention following an examination in the latest year was 36%, up from 22% in the previous year. This continues the upward trend in the rate of detention following examinations in recent years.

Figure 5.3: Number of Schedule 7 to TACT 2000 examinations¹ and resultant detentions, 9 quarters to 31 December 2020, Great Britain

Source: NCTPHQ (see data table S.04)
Notes:

1. Excludes examinations of unaccompanied freight.

Graph showing number of Schedule 7 to TACT 2000 examinations and resultant detentions, for the 9 quarters to 31 December 2020. There were only 281 examinations between April and June 2020, compared with 2,527 between April and June 2019. The number of examinations increased to 836 in the quarter from July to September 2020, however this is still only a third of the number of examinations carried out in the same quarter of the previous year. The number of examinations fell slightly to 708 in October to December 2020.

5.3 Other powers under Schedule 7 to TACT 2000

The following section includes information on several additional powers under Schedule 7 to TACT 2000. This includes:

• strip-searches
• postponement of questioning refusals
• examinations of goods (sea and air freight)

Data on these powers have been collected by the Home Office since April 2015.

In the year ending 31 December 2020:

• 2 strip-searches was carried out under the power
• a total of 518 air freight and 2,314 sea freight examinations were conducted in Great Britain; a decrease on the previous year of 48% and 45% respectively, and continuing the downward trend in use of this power since 2016
• postponement of questioning (usually to enable an individual to consult a solicitor) was refused on two occasions

Furthermore, data have been provided on how frequently powers have been used to restrict or qualify a person’s access to a solicitor by: requiring the person to consult a solicitor by phone, delaying access to a solicitor, and requiring the person to consult in sight and hearing of a qualified officer. These data have been collected since April 2019.

In the year ending 31 December 2020, powers to restrict or qualify a person’s access to a solicitor were not used.

Details on each power can be found in the user guide.

5.4 Cordons under section 33 of the Terrorism Act 2000

Section 33 of TACT 2000 gives police officers of at least the rank of superintendent the power to authorise the use of a cordon in an area where it is considered expedient to do so for the purposes of a terrorist investigation. A police officer may order persons and drivers to leave cordoned areas, and prohibit pedestrian or vehicle access. Cordons are typically set up to investigate a suspected package or to deal with the consequences of a terrorism-related incident. Further information on this power can be found in the user guide.

Prior to the year to December 2020, cordons data were collected on a ‘Year to March…’ basis. Following a recommendation from the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, cordons data are now being collected on a calendar year basis. To give the 2020 figures a direct comparison, we have also republished 2019 figures on a calendar year basis.

In the year ending December 2020, there were five cordons set up in Great Britain, down from eight in the year ending December 2019. Both of these periods are significantly below the peak number of cordons in a 12-month period (51 cordons in the year ending March 2018).

Of the five cordons set up in 2020, two were set up by Greater Manchester Police, two less than the previous year. One was set up by Lancashire Police, one less than the previous year. One was set up by the Metropolitan Police Service, and one was also set up by City of London Police, the same as in the previous year.

Further details on police cordons can be found in table S.05.

6. Further information

Accompanying user guide and tables

The user guide provides further details on this release, including the strengths and limitations of the datasets, and the quality assurance processes involved in the production of this release. It also includes a summary of the criminal justice process, a glossary of terms used, and detail about the legislation and categories mentioned in this release.

A flow chart summarising the Arrests and outcomes section of this release can be found in Annex A.

Future Releases

The information published in the quarterly ‘Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000’ statistics is kept under review, taking into account the needs of users, and burdens on suppliers and producers, in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics. If you have any comments, suggestions or enquiries, please contact the team via email using: [email protected].

Other related publications

The annual ‘Police powers and procedures’ publication provides information on use of various powers by police in England and Wales including: arrests for notifiable offences, stop and searches under section 1 PACE and associated legislation, Best Use of Stop and Search (BUSS) statistics, motoring offences, and detentions under the Mental Health Act 1983.

The annual ‘Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent programme’ publication contains Experimental Statistics on the number of individuals recorded as having been referred to and supported through the Prevent programme due to concerns they were vulnerable to a risk of radicalisation.

Northern Ireland Security Statistics are published by the Northern Ireland Office at Northern Ireland Terrorism Legislation - Annual Statistics 2017/18.

Feedback and enquiries

We welcome feedback on the quarterly statistics release. If you have any feedback or enquiries about this publication, please contact [email protected].

1. Demands on the police forces in England and Wales during the Covid-19 pandemic - National Police Chiefs’ Council – November 2020. ↩

2. CPS response to COVID-19: 16 March to 8 May 2020 – HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate – June 2020. ↩

3. Figures as at 31 December 2020 are not yet available from HMPPS as these will be published by MoJ in April 2021. ↩