Terrorism offences
The definitive guidelines for sentencing terrorism offences were issued on 28 March 2018 and came into force on 27 April 2018. The guidelines included the following offences:
- Preparation of terrorist acts
- Explosive substances (terrorism only):Causing explosion likely to endanger life or property/ Attempt to cause explosion, or making or keeping explosive with intent to endanger life or property
- Encouragement of terrorism/ Dissemination of terrorist publications
- Proscribed organisations: membership
- Proscribed organisations: support
- Funding terrorism: Fundraising/ Use and possession/ Funding arrangements/ Money laundering
- Failure to disclose information about acts of terrorism
- Possession for terrorist purposes
- Collection of terrorist information
- Terrorism offences: additional guidance
Consultations
The consultation on the draft guidelines for sentencing terrorism offences was published on 12 October 2017 and closed on 22 November 2017.
Between October and December 2019 the Council held a consultation on revisions to some of the current guidelines for terrorism offences, following significant changes to terrorism legislation brought in by the new Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019. Revised guidelines will be published in due course.
Following the introduction of the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021, the Council is proposing a series of amendments to four existing sentencing guidelines to bring them into line with the new legislation. This consultation opened on 20 October 2021 and will close on 11 January 2022:
- Preparation of terrorist acts (Terrorism Act 2006, section 5)
- Explosive substances (terrorism only) (Explosive Substances Act 1883, section 2 and section 3)
- Proscribed organisations – membership (Terrorism Act 2000, section 11)
- Proscribed organisations – support (Terrorism Act 2000, section 12)
Related documents
To support the guidelines and consultations, the Council also publishes a range of documents. These documents may include consultation responses, statistical bulletins, resource and equality impact assessments and guideline assessments.
Related documents: Terrorism offences