Collection

Counter-Terrorism and Security Act

This page contains an overview of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act and supporting documents.

The act

The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act contains powers to help the UK respond to the threat of terrorism. It received Royal Assent on 12 February 2015. The act will:

  • disrupt the ability of people to travel abroad to engage in terrorist activity and then return to the UK
  • enhance the ability of operational agencies to monitor and control the actions of those who pose a threat
  • combat the underlying ideology that feeds, supports and sanctions terrorism

The act will:

  • give the police power to temporarily seize a passport at the border, so that they can investigate the individual
  • create a Temporary Exclusion Order that can temporarily disrupt a British citizen suspected of involvement in terrorist activity abroad from returning to the UK (so that when individuals do return, it is done in a manner which we control)
  • place strong restrictions on where individuals can go, and require them to attend meetings as part of their ongoing management (eg with the probation service or JobCentre Plus staff)
  • improve law enforcement agencies’ ability to find out who is responsible for sending internet communications accessing an internet communications service
  • enhance our aviation, maritime and rail border security, with provisions relating to passenger data, ‘no fly’ lists, and security and screening measures
  • ensure that UK-based insurance firms cannot reimburse the payment of terrorist ransoms
  • clarify the scope of power to examine goods at (or near) ports
  • provide a general duty on a range of organisations to prevent people being drawn into terrorism
  • put Channel (the government’s voluntary programme for people vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism) on a statutory basis

The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act and its explanatory notes are available on the Parliament website.

Consultations

Annoucements

Published 26 November 2014
Last updated 12 February 2015 + show all updates
  1. The act received Royal Assent.

  2. First published.