Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal combatants returning from conflicts abroad have been prosecuted in each year since 2011.

Approximately 40 individuals have been prosecuted on their return from Syria, either because of offences committed overseas or for activity linked to their involvement in conflict overseas. The offences cover TACT offences and non-TACT offences, but are only included if they were the result of investigations into terrorist-related activity. Not all of the convictions relate to activity in Syria or even TACT offences. All 40 were found guilty of the offences they were charged with.

We do not comment on specific operational matters in order to protect our national security so as not to reveal operational tactics. It would therefore be inappropriate to break down these figures further or to release information about the specific cases involved.

Please note that the safety and security of our country, our people and our communities remains the Government’s number one priority.

Around 900 people of national security concern travelled from the UK to engage in the conflict in Syria and Iraq. Of these, approximately 20% have been killed while overseas, and around 40% have returned to the UK.

The majority of those who have returned, did so in the earlier stages of the conflict, and were investigated on their return. A significant proportion of these individuals are assessed as no longer being of national security concern.

Everyone who returns from taking part in the conflict in Syria or Iraq must expect to be investigated by the police to determine if they have committed criminal offences, and to ensure that they do not pose a threat to our national security.