56% of those arrested for suspicion of terrorism not charged

56% of those arrested for suspicion of terrorism not charged

Author
Discussion

Duke of Rothesay

Original Poster:

671 posts

186 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
This is bad legislation and the powers are blatantly abused. Mainly against muslims.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8047477.stm

Statistics show 56% of 1,471 suspects arrested under the Terrorism Act between 11 September 2001 and 31 March 2008 did not face charges.

Of those, just 102 were convicted of terror offences and a further 94 were convicted of non-terrorism offences.

There are currently 125 terrorist prisoners in England and Wales.

Of these, 91% class themselves as Muslim.

esselte

14,626 posts

273 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
Duke of Rothesay said:
This is bad legislation and the powers are blatantly abused. Mainly against muslims.
I suppose 90% of people arrested for "terrorism" in the 70's and 80's were Irish....what's your point?

Mr_annie_vxr

9,270 posts

217 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
The charge rate for normal criminal offences overall is about 80%.

With terrorism being a far harder offence to prove with far more evidential requirements etc I'd have thought that every other person being arrested for it is charged is not bad. I think with regards burglary the figures are about the same.

As regards the religious origin, I'm not sure what that has to do with anything other than the current threat being from a very small minority of persons of that religion. As such I would expect it to be reflected in the arrests. Had 90% been budhists then it would be more concerning.

Eric Mc

122,696 posts

271 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
And the successful conviction rate?

Duke of Rothesay

Original Poster:

671 posts

186 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
And the successful conviction rate?
102 from 1,471

About 7%, the police must be proud.

Have you seen how traumatic it is when this legislation is used (abused) against people? Their homes and their whole lives are turned upside down and they are detained for long periods of time with no recourse to justice.

This whole thing stinks.

Puggit

48,764 posts

254 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
The figures for the number of arrests after being stopped for searching under anti-terror laws was even more frightening. The figure was infinitely small.

Tony*T3

20,911 posts

253 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
All jokes about the DoR aside, this is scandalous.

Usually when the government want our attention somewhere else over the last three years the police launch 'terror raids'.

Very surprised to see it hasnt happened this week.

glazbagun

14,430 posts

203 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
I'm surprised that 44% of those arrested are charged, TBH.

JagLover

43,553 posts

241 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
Tony*T3 said:
All jokes about the DoR aside, this is scandalous.

Usually when the government want our attention somewhere else over the last three years the police launch 'terror raids'.
Much of the evidence held to launch a raid is inadmissable in court. If no further evidence is found then there is not sufficient evidence to take them to court. That doesn't mean that they are not dangerous fanatics and, if foreign nationals, should be deported.

Duke of Rothesay

Original Poster:

671 posts

186 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
JagLover said:
Tony*T3 said:
All jokes about the DoR aside, this is scandalous.

Usually when the government want our attention somewhere else over the last three years the police launch 'terror raids'.
Much of the evidence held to launch a raid is inadmissable in court. If no further evidence is found then there is not sufficient evidence to take them to court. That doesn't mean that they are not dangerous fanatics and, if foreign nationals, should be deported.
Ah, so if the police use this act against someone that means they must automatically be guilty. And it is never the abuse of oppressive legislation. I'm glad you cleared that up.

Eric Mc

122,696 posts

271 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
JagLover said:
Tony*T3 said:
All jokes about the DoR aside, this is scandalous.

Usually when the government want our attention somewhere else over the last three years the police launch 'terror raids'.
Much of the evidence held to launch a raid is inadmissable in court. If no further evidence is found then there is not sufficient evidence to take them to court. That doesn't mean that they are not dangerous fanatics and, if foreign nationals, should be deported.
If there is no evidence that can be used in court to prove that they are "dangerous", then, in law, they are not dangerous.

If they are in the country illegally, then that is a different matter and they should be charged with that offence instead.

JagLover

43,553 posts

241 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
If they are in the country illegally, then that is a different matter and they should be charged with that offence instead.
If someone is here on a student/tourist visa then they are here on sufferance. If they become mixed up in extremist activity then they should be booted out.

Eric Mc

122,696 posts

271 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
Define "mixed up".

s3fella

10,524 posts

193 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
If these figures are correct (and noone seems ot be disputing them) that is shocking and must be a real drain on police resources too. Surely no one can be hapy at such a poor strike rate, bearing in mind the limited resources available.

Is one problem possibly the poor or compromised information from other security services?

(waits for front door to be kicked in for suggesting "5" may screw up occasionaly!!) laugh

Jasandjules

70,416 posts

235 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
Duke of Rothesay said:
This is bad legislation and the powers are blatantly abused.
Agreed.