Terrorism and the law :Cross Stitch – Crime and justice

The laws explaining what terrorism is are known as the Terrorism Acts. Anybody who is involved with terrorism in any way can be prosecuted under these laws. Find out what these laws are and what they mean to you.

The country’s counter-terrorism laws are enforced by the police.

When suspected terrorists are arrested and charged, those cases are prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Counter-terrorism policy is handled by the Home Office, and its Office for Security and Counter Terrorism.

The Security Service (MI5) is responsible for investigating and disrupting terrorist plots against the UK.

Control orders are legal orders that limit the behaviour of people suspected of terrorism activity. They set strict rules that explain what those people can do, and when they can do it.

Control orders can, for example, ban the use of mobile phones. They can also limit access to the internet or email. They can also limit where a suspect can travel, and who they can meet.

If you are given a control order

It’s very unlikely that you will ever be given a control order, as only a handful are in place in the country at any time.

If you are given a control order, your case must be reviewed by the High Court to make sure that the order is fair.

Before a control order can be issued, the judge must agree that there is a reasonable suspicion that you have been involved in terrorism-related activity. The judge must agree that the control order is needed to protect the public.

The judge must also find that the control order does not violate your right to a fair trial.