Office of the Leader of the House of Commons

Counter-Terrorism Act

Key Benefits The Bill includes new measures to strengthen terrorist prosecutions and deal with terrorists after they have been charged. It would help the investigation of terrorism by ensuring the police and intelligence and security agencies have access to all the information they need by providing data sharing powers and making full use of DNA; It would ensure the police and CPS have fully up to date and effective tools for dealing with terrorist investigations and offences; It would ensure the police have the right tools to deal with terrorist suspects whom we cannot prosecute; It would strengthen prosecutions against terrorist suspects by, following consultation, allowing evidence received post-charge to be put to them and adverse inferences to be drawn from a failure to mention something later relied upon in court; It would improve public protection by strengthening arrangements for monitoring convicted terrorists after their release from prison; and It would ensure the continued protections of key sites from terrorist attack. Measures to ensure that full use can be made of DNA in terrorism investigations; Following consultation, changes to enable post-charge questioning of terrorist suspects and the drawing of adverse inferences from a refusal to say something later relied on in court; A requirement for convicted terrorists to provide the police with personal information on their release from prison and to notify any changes to this information; Introduction of a foreign travel order that will enable convicted terrorists to be banned from travelling overseas; Funding arrangements for protecting key sites.

Territorial Extent
United Kingdom
Theme
Economic Stability

The Bill applies to the whole of the UK. There may be some areas where the measures touch on devolved matters, for example putting the police Counter Terror DNA database on a statutory footing. This is currently being considered.

Related Documents

Existing Legislation

Terrorism Act 2000
Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001
Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005
Terrorism Act 2006

Comments

If you have any comments on the proposals you can email them to:

CTBill2007@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk