Enhanced sentences
Enhanced sentences
9 Although nearly all terrorist suspects are arrested under the powers in the Terrorism Act 2000, they are subsequently charged with the most appropriate offence. This may be one of the terrorist specific offences (for example, terrorist finance offences) but it may also be a range of nonterrorist offences such as an offence under the Explosives Act 1875. We would like to ensure that sentences for terrorists who are convicted of non-terrorist specific offences are enhanced to reflect the additional seriousness that terrorist involvement represents. We intend that it would be the courts who would determine whether or not an offence was terrorism related and that the prosecution and defence would both have the right to appeal against such a determination. Enhanced sentencing is recommended by Lord Carlile, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism, in his report on the definition of terrorism published on 15 March.
See our comments on this report:
The legal definition of terrorism - disappointing legal review