Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to prohibit (a) artists and (b) music venues that hold concerts by artists who publicly express support for proscribed terrorist organisations.

Under section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000 it is already an offence to invite support for a proscribed organisation:

• Section 12(1) makes it an offence to invite support for a proscribed organisation (the support invited need not be material support, such as the provision of money or other property, and can also include moral support or approval);
• Section 12(1A) makes it an offence to express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation, reckless as to whether a person to whom the expression is directed will be encouraged to support a proscribed organisation; and
• Sections 12(2) and (3) make it an offence to arrange, manage or assist in arranging or managing a meeting in the knowledge that the meeting is to support or further the activities of a proscribed organisation, or is to be addressed by a person who belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organisation; or to address a meeting if the purpose of the address is to encourage support for, or further the activities of, a proscribed organisation.

Section 13(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000 makes it an offence to wear clothing or display an article in a public place in circumstances that arouse reasonable suspicion that the person is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation.

The investigation and prosecution of proscription offences is a matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service, which are operationally independent.