• Military
• WMD
• Intelligence

• Security Menu                     

• Systems
• Industry
• Operations
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Space

Two-thirds of UK terror suspects released without charge

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, May 14, IRNA – Less than seven percent of 1,471 terrorist suspects arrested in Britain since 9/11 have so far been convicted under terrorism legislation, while two-thirds have been released without any charge, according to first detailed official figures.

The Home Office figures showed that between 2001 and 2008, only 102 have been convicted of offences under a whole raft of anti-terror laws, while more than double the number, 222, have faced relevant charges. A further 94 have been convicted under non-terrorism legislation out of 116 charged.

Defending the small percentages, the Home Office said the total of those arrested who had been charged or convicted was similar to that for other indictable criminal offences.

Policing and Security Minister Vernon Coaker (pictured) insisted that the figures underline “the considerable success that the police, security service and intelligence agencies have had in disrupting terrorists and that the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) has had in prosecuting these individuals.”

"We know we face a real and serious threat from terrorism and the figures outlined today show 196 terrorist related convictions between September 2001 and March 2008,” Coaker said in adding together the total convictions.

The majority of the arrests were made under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 which gives the police power to detain anyone reasonably suspected of being a terrorist or having committed certain offences under the Act.

The main charges under terrorism legislation included 32 per cent for possession of an article for terrorism purposes , 15 per cent for fundraising, 14 per cent for membership of a proscribed organisation, 9 per cent relating to information, 7 per cent for collecting information and 23 per cent for other offences.

Those accused under non-terror laws included 31 per cent for conspiracy to murder, 17 per cent for offences under the 1883 Explosive Substances Act and 50 per cent for other offences under criminal legislation.

Coaker said that considering the evidence presented in terrorism trials, there can be “no doubt about the nature and complexity of the threat.” She named aspirations to use a dirty bomb, the targeting of shopping centres, nightclubs and transport infrastructure.

There was also the “desire to inflict mass casualties on the public without regard to race, creed or colour; the aspiration to commit terrorist acts abroad: and the encouragement and support of terrorism both in the UK and overseas.''

Apart from just under 7 per cent being convicted under terror laws and a further 6 per cent inder non-terrorism legislation, the highest proportion was for 9 per cent being dealt with by alternative action, such as deportation.

The statistics also show that as of March 2008 there were 125 people in prison in England and Wales for terrorist-related offences and a further 17 for domestic extremism or separatism, mainly for animal rights protests. Most of the prisoners, 75 described themselves as British, with 111 declaring themselves to be Muslim.