Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what steps the CPS is taking to ensure the effective prosecution of British nationals inciting extremism.

Prosecutions for offences of stirring up racial and religious hatred and hatred based upon sexual orientation can only be brought with the consent of one of the Law Officers.

All cases where terrorism-related or incitement to hatred offences are being considered are dealt with by Specialist Prosecutors in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division to ensure a consistent approach. The CPS has also established a network of Hate Crime Coordinators to ensure that good practice and innovation is shared, produced a Hate Crime Strategy for 2014-17 and issued internal guidance to prosecutors setting out its approach to those involved in committing acts of violent extremism and inciting racial and religious hatred and hatred based upon sexual orientation.

Since 2006 27 defendants have been successfully prosecuted under the Public Order Act 1986 for offences related to inciting racial, religious or sexual hatred. In addition to this since ISIL was made a proscribed organisation in June 2014 6 individuals have been successfully prosecuted under the terrorism Act 2006 for inciting or promoting terrorist activities.