Official Statistics

Northern Ireland Terrorism Legislation: Annual Statistics 2015/16

The Northern Ireland Office today published Statistical Bulletin ‘Northern Ireland Terrorism Legislation: Annual Statistics 2015/16’. This is an Official Statistics publication.

Documents

Northern Ireland Terrorism Legislation Annual Statistics 2015/16

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Details

The report details the use in Northern Ireland of powers contained within the Terrorism Act 2000, the Terrorism (Northern Ireland) Act 2006, the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 and the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 in the financial year 2015/16.

Key Findings

During 2015/2016:

  • The powers of stop and search under section 47A of the Terrorism Act 2000 were not exercised in Northern Ireland in 2015/16.

  • There were 145 premises searched under warrant by the Police Service of Northern Ireland under section 37, Schedule 5 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

  • As in previous years, there was limited use of powers provided under the Terrorism Act 2006 and the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 during 2015/16. There were two premises searched under section 28 of the Terrorism Act 2006 and four persons made subject to notification requirements under section 47 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008.

  • There were 149 persons detained under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and 10 applications for an extension of detention, all of which were granted.

  • Of the 149 persons detained under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, 141 (95%) were held for 48 hours or less. Eighteen persons were charged and 131 persons were released.

  • Eighteen persons detained under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 were charged with 36 offences including three offences of attempted murder, eight explosives offences and six firearms offences.

  • As of 29 June 2016, none of the 18 persons detained under section 41 and subsequently charged in 2015/16 had been convicted of terrorist related offences.

  • Eight persons detained under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 were charged with 11 offences under the Terrorism Act 2000 including five offences of membership (section 11). Three persons detained under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 were charged with three offences under the Terrorism Act 2006: two offences of preparation of terrorist acts and one offence related to encouragement of terrorism.

  • In 2015, there were a total of 25 persons disposed of by a non-jury trial, 15 of whom were found guilty of at least one charge. A total of 15 non-jury trial certificates were issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland in 2015.

  • There were 17 Preliminary Inquiries under section 3 of the Justice and Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2007, all of which were committed to the Crown Court.

  • There was a total of four persons convicted under the Terrorism Act 2000, the Terrorism Act 2006 or the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 during 2015/16.

  • In 2015/16, there were a total of 4,405 examinations under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, none of which resulted in detention.

  • There were 43 designated cordons under section 33 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

  • Compensation payments (including solicitors’ and loss assessors’ fees and Agency payments), paid under section 38, Schedule 4 of the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007, totalled £67,030.

This is an annual publication reporting on key Northern Ireland specific terrorism legislation statistics. Figures are mainly drawn from administrative and operational data sources.

Official Statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs and are produced free from any political interference. They are also subject to restrictions in terms of pre-release access.

Published 1 November 2016