Terror-related arrests in the UK up by 60%

Figures released by the Home Office have revealed that the number of people arrested for terrorism-related offences has jumped by 60%.
In the 12 months to the end of June 2012 there were 228 suspects arrested in England, Wales and Scotland, up from 140 in 2010-2011.

In fact, pre-Olympic arrests are the most likely reason for the jump, with authorities moving to ensure that any persons who could be involved in terrorism around the event were under control.

On 30 June 2012 there were 130 people in prison custody for terrorism-related and extremist offences.

Of the 228 arrested, 49 people were charged with terror-related offences while another 33 were charged with non-terror offences. This represents a charge rate of 36% which is exactly the same as the charge rate for all terror-related arrests since 9/11.

So the jump in arrests has not led to a proportional jump in charges – suggesting Police action was not necessarily without cause.

New stop and search powers that were introduced in March 2011 have still never been used in the UK.

These new powers under section 47A of the Terrorism Act 2000 allow officers to stop and search people in certain areas even when there is no suspicion of involvement with terrorism (begging the question why are they being searched anyway?).

Metropolitan Police statistics reveal that searches when there is a suspicion of terrorism have fallen by around half to 679 people in 2011-12.

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