Longer sentences for terrorism offences on the horizon

Jail terms for terrorism offences could be significantly increased the Prime Minister has said.

Speaking after the attacks in London on Saturday night which saw seven people killed and 48 injured, Theresa May said that the changing threat meant that “we need to review Britain’s counterterrorism strategy to make sure the police and security services have all the powers they need.”

She added: “And if we need to increase the length of custodial sentences for terrorism-related offences, even apparently less serious offences, that is what we will do.”

Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith told the BBC that Mrs May will likely revise the terrorism prevention and investigation measures (Tpims) if her party wins following this week’s general election.

The Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011 imposes restrictions on people suspected of being terrorists but who have not yet been convicted of any offences. These replaced the stricter “control orders” introduced by Labour, which were the subject of legal challenges.

Dr Tim Wilson, director of The Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at the University of St Andrews, expressed doubt about the plans.

He told Scottish Legal News: “The attacks of the 22 March, 22 May and now 3 June across the UK showed very considerable variation in terms of their modality and choice of targets. But they fully shared one common feature: that all five of the attackers went out, apparently, with a firm death wish and no intention of coming back.

“Even though only the Manchester attacker, Salman Abedi, actually blew his own physical frame into fragments, it is hard to believe the other four attackers did not expect to be gunned down - as they all promptly were.

“In summary - longer custodial sentences for those who flirt with joining such missions seem unlikely to have much deterrence effect.”