Accredited official statistics

User survey feedback summary: future changes to Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 statistics

Published 23 July 2026

Applies to England and Wales

The HSAI statistics team regularly reviews the contents of its publications to ensure they remain relevant and meet user needs. We recently reviewed the Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 statistics and shared a survey in March 2026, to collect feedback to help improve future releases of the statistical publication and inform ongoing decisions about the proposed changes to the publication’s content and frequency. Below is a summary of the feedback we received and the decisions we have made regarding each of the changes.

A copy of the original survey questions are included alongside the summary of feedback. If you didn’t get a chance to share your thoughts with us while the survey was open, especially if the decisions would greatly affect your work, answer the questions below and get in contact with us at HSAI_Statistics@homeoffice.gov.uk.

1. Purpose and scope of the survey

Alongside the publication in March 2026 of the Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 statistics covering the quarterly update to December 2025, we opened a survey for users to gather feedback on 2 priority areas:

• the content of the published statistics
• proposed changes to the publication’s frequency

We received 17 anonymised and complete responses from a range of users, including individuals working within the counter-terrorism sector and users external to the Civil Service.

2. Survey design and limitations

The survey was designed to capture both quantitative and qualitative feedback and was structured around 6 themed areas, to support a comprehensive understanding of user views. These themes covered:

• awareness of and access to the publication
• frequency of use
• purpose of use and user needs
• quality and accessibility of content
• future needs and potential improvements
• impact and outcomes of the statistics

Survey findings are based on analysis of responses to individual questions and cross cutting qualitative themes. Findings have been interpreted with caution due to the small number of responses. Results are representative only of the 17 individuals who completed the survey and do not reflect the views of all users of the publication. Qualitative findings are indicative of user perspectives rather than exhaustive.

3. Copy of the survey

A copy of the survey questions is provided within this report. If you did not have the opportunity to respond while the survey was open and believe that the decisions proposed in this report would significantly affect your work, please consider answering the questions provided and contact us at HSAI_Statistics@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Q1. Have you accessed the Home Office’s ‘Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation’ statistical publication?

Q2. What are your reason(s) for not engaging with the publication? Select all that apply:

a. I was not aware the statistics existed
b. I have already acquired information from elsewhere
c. The publication is not suitable for my needs
d. Other (please specify)

Q3. What were the reason(s) for accessing the latest or previous publications? Select all that apply:

a. Academic research
b. Political research
c. Work within the counter-terrorism sector
d. Work within local government
e. General interest in counter-terrorism statistics
f. Other (please specify)

Q4. How often do you access the most recent quarterly publication?

Q5. When you access a new quarterly publication, how many times do you typically return to it in each quarter?

Q6. Are you satisfied with the current frequency of the publication?

Q7. How often would you want an update to the publication for the latest figures? Please specify how a change to the current frequency of the publication would affect your work and use of the statistics (for example, no impact, minor impact, moderate impact, major impact).

Q8. As part of the publication, we publish the main bulletin, accompanying annual and quarterly data tables, and a user guide. Which of these have you engaged with?

Q9. How useful do you find the publication’s main report?

Q10. How useful do you find the accompanying data tables? Please share specific feedback or suggestions you have on the summary data tables such as additional breakdowns, further analysis or more detailed explanations. Please also specify which area of the data you are referring to in your comments. If you do not find some tables useful, provide additional information as to how they could be improved for your use.

Q11. To what extent do you agree that the data in the following areas is useful? Please also share any specific feedback or suggestions you have regarding these areas. Also state if there is a particular interest in the data where multiple areas are seen in one data table. If you do not find an area of this data useful, also provide additional information as to how this could be improved for your use.

This includes:

a. Arrests and outcomes
b. Court proceedings
c. Terrorist Prisoners
d. Other police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000
e. About these statistics
f. Year ending comparisons
g. Quarterly comparisons

Q12. In Q11. you told us how useful you find the overall “Arrests and outcomes” section. This question focuses on the individual data tables within that section. Please indicate how useful you find each individual data table by area for your needs. Please refer to specific tables (for example, A.01 - arrests by type for terrorism related activity) or suggest improvements if any tables are not useful for your needs.

This includes:

a. Arrests by legislation
b. Pre-charge detentions under section 41 of TACT 2000
c. Other powers under Schedule 8 of TACT 2000
d. Charges
e. Prosecutions
f. Demographics by sex
g. Demographics by age
h. Demographics by ethnic appearance
i. Demographics by nationality
j. Impact of Palestine Action proscription data introduced in the quarterly release from September 2025 by arrests and charges and by demographics for sex, age, ethnic appearance and nationality

Q13. In Q11. you told us how useful you find the overall “Other police powers under TACT 20000” section. This question focuses on the individual data tables within that section. Please indicate how useful you find each individual data table by area for your needs. Please refer to specific tables (for example, S.06 - Police cordons under section 33 of TACT 2000) or suggest improvements if any tables are not useful for your needs.

This includes:

a. Stop and search under section 43 of TACT 2000
b. Schedule 7 to TACT 2000
c. Other powers under Schedule 8 of TACT 2000
d. Cordons under section 33 of TACT 2000

Q14. How useful do you find the user guide? Please add any specific feedback or suggestions you have on the user guide such as more detailed explanation regarding terrorism legislation or increased signposting to other materials.

4. User feedback on the content of the published statistics

4.1 Awareness and access

Most respondents were aware of the publication and reported accessing the most recent release multiple times each quarter, primarily to support their work within the counter terrorism sector. A small proportion of respondents reported that they had not previously accessed the publication, mainly because they were unaware of its existence or felt that it did not meet their needs.

Among respondents who were aware of the publication, reasons for use included supporting operational or analytical work and maintaining a general interest in counter terrorism statistics. A smaller number reported using the publication for external or independent work.

4.2 Purpose of use and quality and accessibility of content

Patterns of use and feedback indicate that the publication largely meets user needs, with overall positive perceptions of quality and accessibility, although experiences vary by user role and use case. All respondents reported using the main statistical bulletin for commentary, and most also used the accompanying data tables. Fewer respondents reported using the user guide.

Qualitative feedback indicated that some users focus primarily on specific legislative powers (for example, Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000) and therefore find certain tables more relevant to their work than others. Specialist users often reported direct use of data tables and reference to previous editions for historical comparison, while the commentary was viewed as particularly helpful for less experienced users.

Views on quality and accessibility were broadly positive, particularly in relation to clarity of commentary and availability of data tables. Some respondents expressed more neutral views on cross referencing, navigation, accessibility, and the level of detail available. Several respondents suggested that interpretability could be improved through clearer and more transparent definitions of key terms, such as “terrorism related” arrests, particularly where classifications may change over time.

Users also identified potential improvements to usability, including:

• greater consistency in reporting periods (for example, the use of a consistent calendar or financial year);
• increased data granularity where available, including clearer jurisdictional breakdowns;
• wider coverage of stop and search activity outside the Metropolitan Police Service area; and
• inclusion of statistics on newer powers, such as sections 43C and 43D of the Terrorism Act 2000

4.3 Impact and outcomes

Respondents reported high levels of usefulness across most data tables, with most sections rated as either very useful or useful and low levels of strong dissatisfaction. Perceived usefulness was strongest for core operational and outcome focused sections, including arrests and outcomes, court proceedings, terrorist prisoners, trend comparisons, and key demographic breakdowns. These areas were consistently highlighted as supporting analysis, decision making, and operational work.

Data relating to Palestine Action related arrests, which was newly introduced to the publication, was also positively received.

Usefulness was more variable for data related to other powers and some arrest tables, reflecting differences in user role and analytical needs. Qualitative feedback suggested that additional contextual detail, such as clearer information on arrest ideology, could further support interpretation.

5. User feedback on publication frequency

5.1 Frequency of use

Among respondents who were aware of the publication, most reported regular engagement with each new release. The majority indicated that they returned to the most recent publication 2 to 3 times per quarter, with a smaller proportion reporting more frequent engagement. Less frequent engagement, such as occasional or rare access, was uncommon.

Most respondents reported being satisfied with the current quarterly release frequency, though a small number expressed dissatisfaction.

5.2 Future needs and preferences

When asked about preferred publication frequency, most respondents favoured no change to the current quarterly cycle. A smaller proportion indicated a preference for a shift to 6-monthly (biannual) or annual publication.

Qualitative responses highlighted differing perspectives on release frequency. Some users valued quarterly releases for ongoing monitoring of trends, while others noted that short term volatility can complicate interpretation and reporting. Respondents who favoured less frequent publication identified potential benefits including clearer analysis, improved consistency for senior and media reporting, and a reduced risk of misinterpretation. Other users indicated that frequency had limited impact on their work as long as the most recent figures remained accessible.

Respondents also identified additional data and breakdowns that could enhance analytical value and operational relevance. These included:

• arrests by ideology
• post conviction outcomes for terrorist offenders, such as recall figures and probation monitoring by age and sex
• outcomes for terrorist offenders with prior contact with the Prevent programme
• regional alignment of statistics to Counter Terrorism Policing regions
• updates to long running measures, such as the number of Schedule 7 examinations that have led to charges

6. Proposed changes to the publication

Having reviewed the user survey findings and considered them alongside our wider obligations under the Code of Practice for Statistics, particularly Standard 8, which focuses on the core principles of value and user engagement, we propose to change the publication frequency of the Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 statistics from a quarterly to a 6 monthly cycle.

This proposal reflects:

• mixed user preferences regarding publication frequency, with support for reduced frequency among a smaller proportion of respondents
• concerns around short term volatility and interpretability of quarterly figures
• the opportunity to prioritise analytical value and clarity while maintaining accessibility to the most recent data

Under a 6-monthly publication cycle, we will undertake internal work to ensure that:

• definitions are clarified to improve transparency of key terms, including “terrorism related” arrests
• reporting periods are applied consistently and the most recent figures are provided where possible
• content is prioritised, with a focus on high impact tables, particularly those relating to arrests and outcomes, court proceedings, and terrorist prisoners
• opportunities to include additional metrics and breakdowns identified by users are explored and assessed for feasibility, including age and sex breakdowns, alignment with Counter Terrorism Policing regions, and post conviction outcomes