Islamic State: British Nationals Abroad

(asked on 3rd February 2020) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many persons formerly resident in the UK are known to have returned to the UK after travelling to the so-called Islamic State in Iraq or Syria; how many such persons have been subject to Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures and/or Temporary Exclusion Orders; how many such persons have been convicted of terrorist offences since their return; how many such convictions are for offences committed while abroad with the so-called Islamic State; and how many such convictions are for offences committed after their return to the UK.


Answered by
Baroness Williams of Trafford Portrait
Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
This question was answered on 17th February 2020

The Government’s number one priority remains the safety and security of its citizens. All of those who have returned have been investigated and the majority have been assessed to pose no, or a low security risk. There have been around 40 convictions of individuals following their return from Syria, for a range of offences connected to their activities overseas or subsequent counter-terrorism investigations.

There are a number of tools available to law enforcement and security agencies to manage the threat posed by returning UK citizens suspected of involvement in terrorism-related activity abroad including Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (TPIMs) and Temporary Exclusion Orders (TEOs).

The total number of TEOs imposed in 2017, the first year the power was used, was nine. As at 31 May 2018, there were eight TPIM notices in force, seven of which related to British Citizens. These figures were published in the 2018 Disruptive and Investigatory Powers Transparency Report. Due to national security considerations, it would not be appropriate to provide a further breakdown of these figures.

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