Counter-Terrorism Bill

A Bill containing 8 parts. It includes provisions for new powers relating to the removal of documents for examination in the context of a search under existing terrorism legislation. It also amends the definition of terrorism in section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2000 by inserting a reference to a racial cause.

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The Bill is in 8 parts. Part 1 (powers to gather and share information) includes provisions for new powers relating to the removal of documents for examination in the context of a search under existing terrorism legislation. Part 2 (detention and questioning of terrorist suspects) contains provision for a temporary extension to the maximum amount of time that terrorist suspects can be held before being charged to 42 days. However, this extension may be made available only by the Secretary of State, and only if there are compelling operational reasons to do so. Part 3 (prosecution and punishment of offences) includes provision for specified terrorism offences committed anywhere in the UK to be tried in any part of the UK. Part 5 (asset freezing proceedings) amends the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 so that intercept material can be used in asset freezing cases relating to terrorism.
Part 6 (inquests and inquiries) create provisions for coroners' inquests to take place without a jury if the Secretary of State has certified that the inquest will involve the consideration of material that should not be made public in the interests of national security, the relationship between the United Kingdom and another country, or otherwise in the public interest. Part 7 (miscellaneous) amends the definition of terrorism in section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (and various other pieces of terrorism legislation) by inserting a reference to a racial cause. Part 8 contains supplementary provisions.