Key Facts

• Increased funding for counter-terrorism policing by £90 million in 2020-21.
• Provided an additional £500,000 to the Victims of Terrorism Unit.
• Plans to double the number of counter-terrorism specialist probation staff.
• The serious terrorism sentence applies to the most dangerous offenders who would otherwise receive a life sentence.
• Courts can apply longer extended licence periods of up to 10 years for dangerous terrorist offenders after full custody sentences.
• Maximum penalty for membership, support of proscribed organisation, and attending places used for terrorist training will increase from 10 to 14 years.
• The Bill allows courts to find a terrorism connection in non-specific terrorism offences.
• It ensures that terrorist offenders will face minimum periods of supervision on licence, such as 12 months for those with custodial terms over two years.
• Mandatory polygraph testing is proposed as an additional condition for certain terrorist offenders' licences.
• The Bill lowers the standard of proof required to impose TPIM notices and removes the current two-year limit.
• The change in burden of proof was previously raised by Lord Anderson's recommendation.
• Jonathan Hall QC has not recommended reducing the burden of proof.
• TPIMs involve high resource management and are applied with caution.
• Annual reviews of TPIMs ensure proportionality.
• Serious crime prevention orders will be streamlined for terrorism cases.
• Breaching a TPIM notice or temporary exclusion order is added to relevant terrorism offences.
• Offenders aged 16 or over sentenced to 12 months or more must notify the police of changes in circumstances and foreign travel plans.
• The Bill introduces youth equivalents for special sentences for terrorist offenders under 18.
• The number of specialist probation officers has been doubled.
• Imams with specialist training are being deployed to deal with extremism.
• Separation centres have been created for individuals of known extremism.
• The statutory deadline for the completion of the Prevent review will be removed.
• The new independent reviewer must have time necessary to carry out a full and open review.
• The Government aims for the review to conclude, with the government response, by August next year.
• The provisions of article 7 of the European convention on human rights are expected not to be affected by the measures proposed.
• The Bill includes UK-wide application due to devolution settlement and reserved matters in counter-terrorism.
• Terrorist attacks were committed by individuals who were released automatically halfway through their sentences.
• The Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act 2020 ensures terrorist offenders cannot be released without Parole Board approval.
• Of 224 people in prison for terror-related offences, 173 are Islamic extremists and 38 are far-right ideologues.
• The Bill proposes extending sentences for terrorist offenders.
• There is skepticism about removing Parole Board assessments for serious terrorism offenders.
• Labour supports creating a new serious terrorism sentence and increasing maximum penalties to 14 years.
• Removal of Parole Board assessment for terrorism offenders.
• Concern about extending maximum licence period to 25 years.
• Lowering standard of proof for TPIMs from balance of probabilities back to reasonable suspicion.
• Potential indefinite renewal of TPIMs without a two-year limit.
• The 2015 Acheson report called for a central, comprehensive strategy to address Islamist extremism in prisons.
• Eight out of 69 recommendations were promised to be implemented but their implementation status is unclear.
• An independent review of the Prevent programme was supposed to be completed by August 2020 but will now be delayed until next year.
• Eight of the eleven recommendations from Ian Acheson’s report were carried out.
• Robert Buckland has engaged regularly with Ian Acheson, whose work he respects highly.
• The independent reviewer Mr Jonathan Hall QC supports and endorses several changes proposed by the Bill.
• The statement references Mr Hall's note dated 2 June.
• There are concerns about the opting out of judicial review by some suspects under TPIM orders.
• A suggestion is made to seek High Court permission for any extension beyond a two-year length of a TPIM.
• Concerns over reliance on polygraphs and their dependability in all circumstances.
• The Scottish National party supports certain aspects of the Bill but has reservations about sentencing changes.
• Sentencing is a devolved matter with ongoing discussions between UK and Scottish Governments regarding legislative consent motions.
• The SNP aims for inclusive, empowered communities in Scotland to resist radicalisation.
• Cherry welcomes the UK Government's follow-up on ending automatic early release for serious offenders as introduced by the Scottish Government.
• Polygraph testing is not used in Scotland's justice system due to lack of evidence of effectiveness.
• MAPPA manages high-risk terrorism offenders in Scotland.
• Amendments reverse changes to TPIMs burden of proof and curfew provisions.
• Jonathan Hall, QC questions reduction of standard of proof and indefinite orders.
• Prevent strategy delivery in Scotland is devolved with different community impacts compared to England.
• The debate addresses the evolving character of terrorism which requires constant review of counter-terrorism mechanisms.
• TPIMs are a contentious matter with the bill proposing a lower threshold for their implementation.
• Polygraphs may be used to assess deradicalisation progress but specific usage criteria are not detailed in the Bill.
• The statement acknowledges the need for consensus on debates regarding terrorism.
• The speaker is a robust supporter of Prevent but emphasizes the importance of oversight and measuring its effectiveness.
• The speaker supports extending the review process for Prevent as provided in the Bill.
• TPIMs replaced control orders in 2011.
• Cooper has spent almost a decade arguing against the decision to end control orders and replace them with TPIMs.
• Two people on TPIMs managed to abscond, which had not happened under relocated cases.
• The two-year limit for TPIMs was set without provisions for extending protection if necessary.
• Robert Buckland clarifies his statement on operational flexibility.
• He stresses the need for rigorous application of statutory regimes.
• He refers to the complexity and seriousness associated with obtaining TPIM orders.
• London Bridge attacks in November last year and Streatham attacks a few months ago highlight ongoing terrorist threats.
• PC Keith Palmer was killed protecting democracy at Westminster.
• Recent terror attacks were perpetrated by home-grown individuals radicalised online or in prison.
• The Bill prevents automatic release of terror offenders halfway through their sentences.
• Strengthening terrorism prevention and investigation measures for security services.
• The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty on local authorities and partners to provide support for people vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.
• Local authorities, including the speaker's constituency, face significant financial pressures, with her local authority expecting a £50 million deficit.
• Youth services have experienced dramatic cuts over recent years.
• The Bill includes tougher sentences and improved monitoring for terrorists.
• The number of counter-terrorism specialists in the probation service will be doubled.
• Three constituents of the speaker were murdered by terrorists in five years in Northern Ireland.
• The Law Society has raised concerns about TPIMs taking us back to the control order phase.
• Northern Ireland is now included in the sentencing provisions of the Bill after previously being left out.
• Concern exists that minors coerced into carrying out terrorist activities may be considered under terrorism legislation.
• The Minister is asked to confirm the capacity of specialist containment units for increased numbers of incarcerated terrorists.
• Christine Jardine argues against longer sentences post-terrorist acts.
• Emphasizes the importance of preventing terrorism before it happens through job security and positive futures.
• Highlights concerns about retrospective sentence changes for existing prisoners.
• The speaker mentions three recent terrorist attacks in London, including Streatham and Fishmongers’ Hall.
• In 2019, there were 280 arrests for terrorism-related activity.
• Since March 2017, 25 terrorist plots have been foiled.
• The Bill proposes a new sentence with a minimum of 14 years in custody and an extended licence period of seven to 25 years.
• The debate acknowledges the severe terrorist threat in Northern Ireland.
• Concerns are raised about the potential undermining of current public protection measures, including post-release monitoring.
• The Bill's implications for young people and mandatory polygraphs have been highlighted by other speakers.
• The Bill aims to ensure longer prison sentences for serious terrorist offenders.
• It enhances the ability to monitor individuals in the community who might still pose a threat.
• The bill is compatible with both the European convention on human rights and the Good Friday agreement.
• The Bill proposes minimum sentences of 14 years' imprisonment for serious terrorism offences.
• There is further investment in deradicalisation programmes, including recruitment of additional staff.
• Young adults aged 18 to 20 are not differentiated from older adults in sentencing provisions despite incomplete neurological development.
• The Bill proposes minimum sentences of 14 years for terrorism offences.
• TPIMs can extend beyond two years if renewed with proper safeguards.
• Serious crime prevention orders can be applied to monitor and disrupt potential terrorist activities.
• The Bill introduces a new serious terrorism sentence with a minimum term of 14 years.
• There is no automatic release at the two-thirds point for individuals sentenced under this new provision.
• The Bill allows judges to find that other offences may have a connection to terrorism, aiding in future monitoring and rehabilitation.
• The minimum sentence for terror offences will increase to 14 years.
• The number of specialist counter-terror probation officers will double.
• Early release opportunities for those given extended determinate sentences will be removed.
• Events at Fishmongers’ Hall and Streatham highlighted major holes in the legislative framework.
• The Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill was supported by the Opposition earlier this year.
• TPIMs qualifying threshold is being changed, lowering the standard of proof from “on balance of probabilities” to “reasonable grounds for suspecting.”
• There are concerns about the lack of direction and clarity on the independent review of Prevent strategy.
• The current number of TPIMs in force is five.
• Not a single TPIM has been overturned since 2011 despite judicial mechanisms.
• The burden of proof for TPIMs under the Bill is 'reasonable grounds for suspecting'.
• The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation's opinion is considered but not always followed.
• The government deprives individuals of their citizenship if they go overseas to assist terrorist organisations and are dual nationals.
• Prosecution under criminal law is preferred when there is sufficient evidence.
• TPIMs can be used if evidential difficulties prevent prosecution but a reasonable suspicion exists.
• £90 million investment in counter-terrorism policing.
• Doubled number of counter-terrorism probation staff.
• Introduction of new national standards for monitoring terrorist offenders on licence.
• Increase in disclosure rate by sex offenders using polygraph tests from 51% to 76%.
• Target date for the Prevent review report is August 2021.
• Legal advice confirmed applicability of provisions to Northern Ireland.