Terrorism Lawyers

What are the types of terrorism charges?

Our terrorism lawyers can represent you on all types of terrorism cases and offences, including but not limited to:

• Act preparatory to terrorism
• Incitement of terrorism
• Dissemination of terrorist publications, including glorifying an act of terrorism
• Terrorist training offences
• Funding terrorism
• Possessing information for terrorist purposes
• Conspiracy to murder
• Failing to disclose information that may be of use to authorities in preventing terrorism
• Being a member of a terrorist organisation
• Support of a terrorist organisation
• Collecting of information

Act preparatory to terrorism

Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 outlines that someone can be charged with ‘preparation of a terrorist act’. This is where someone is deemed to have had the intention of committing an act of terrorism or intends to assist someone else to commit an act of terrorism.

This also includes preparation at an early stage, including internet research.

Incitement of terrorism

Incitement or encouragement of terrorism will involve any published statements (or steps to encourage another person to publish statements) which encourage others to commit, prepare or instigate acts of terrorism.

The statement could also be considered reckless as to whether someone else may be induced into committing acts of terrorism.

Dissemination of terrorist publications

You may be charged with dissemination of terrorist publications if you are found guilty of:

• Distributing or circulating a terrorist publication
• Giving, selling or lending a terrorist publication
• Offering a terrorist publication for sale or loan
• Providing a service to others which enables another to obtain, read, listen or look at terrorist publications or acquire them by means of a gift, sale or loan
• Transmitting the content of terrorist publications electronically
• Having a terrorist publication in your possession with a view to becoming the subject of any of the above

Terrorist training offences

Charges for training for terrorism can be brought where there is evidence of any instruction or training in the skills that can be used to commit an act of terrorism. It also must be shown that, at the time, the person knew that their instructions or training would assist in the commission of terrorist acts.

Funding terrorism

If you invite, receive money or other property, and have reasonable belief that this will be used for the purpose of terrorism, this can lead to a charge of fundraising terrorism.

This can be further separated into the following:

Use and possession

A person may be charged with ‘use and possession’ for the purpose of terrorism if they use money or property for the purpose of terrorism or if they possess money or property and intend for it to be used for the purpose of terrorism.

Funding arrangements

A person may be charged with ‘funding arrangements’ of terrorism if they enter or become concerned in an arrangement whereby money or other property is made available for the purposes of terrorism.

Money laundering

A person may be charged with ‘money laundering’ if they enter or become concerned in an arrangement which facilitates the retention or control of terrorist property by concealment, removal from the jurisdiction, by transfer to nominees or in any other way.

Possessing information for terrorist purposes

You can be charged for possessing an article which gives rise to reasonable suspicion that said possession is for a purpose which is connected to the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

Conspiracy to murder

Offences which are not included in terrorism law in the UK can also be classed as having a terrorist connection, including conspiracy to murder, or causing an explosion. Any cases with terrorist connections, including conspiracy to murder, are likely to attract a higher sentence on conviction.

Failing to disclose information that may be of use to authorities in preventing terrorism

A person may be charged with ‘failure to disclose information about acts of terrorism’ if they have information which they know or believe might be of material assistance in preventing the commission of an act of terrorism or in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

Being a member of a terrorist organisation

A person may be charged with ‘being a member of a terrorist organisation if they belong or profess to belong to a proscribed organisation. 

Support of a terrorist organisation

A proscribed organisation is an organisation that the Home Secretary believes commits or permits acts of terrorism, prepares for terrorism, promotes or encourages terrorism or is otherwise concerned with terrorism.

Collecting of information

A person commits a terrorism offence if they:

1. Collect or make a record of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism (includes downloading); or
2. Possess a document or record containing information of that kind; or
3. View, or otherwise access, by means of the internet a document or record containing information of that kind.

A record could be photographic or an electronic record.

Our terrorism lawyers can advise you at any of our offices or at any location in the United Kingdom including in prison.

Will I be given a fair trial if I am accused of terrorism?

The right to receive a fair trial in the UK is enshrined in the Human Rights Act 1998, Schedule 1, Article 6. If you are accused of a terrorism offence, you will have a right to a fair trial.

Under these guidelines, everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty and those charged with a criminal offence, such as a terror-related offence, have a range of minimum legal rights.

These minimum rights are as follows:

a.) to be informed promptly, in a language which he understands and in detail, of the nature and cause of the accusation against him;

b.) to have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence;

c.) to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing or, if he has not sufficient means to pay for legal assistance, to be given it free when the interests of justice so require;

d.) to examine or have examined witnesses against him and to obtain the attendance and examination of witnesses on his behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him;

e.) to have the free assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand or speak the language used in court.

Pre-charge bail

If you are interviewed under caution for a terrorism offence, you may be subsequently released on pre-charge bail. Pre-charge bail (often referred to as being released on bail) could be granted in situations where the police need more time to conduct their investigation or gather evidence.

After you are released on pre-charge bail, you will usually be subject to various bail conditions, such as not being able to visit certain places, contact certain people and/or being required to attend the police station on a certain day.

To find out more in relation to pre-charge bail, please use the links provided below:

• Pre-charge bail and Released Under Investigation (RUI)
• On Bail But Not Charged - What Does It Mean?
• How long can you be on bail without charge UK?

Fees and Funding

We are always clear and transparent when it comes to the costs involved in our team’s terrorism defence in London and the rest of the UK.

Legal aid public funding may be available in some cases and will depend on the seriousness of the case, your current financial situation and whether it justifies the grant of public funding.

For clients that do not qualify for public funding, the alternative option will be to fund a case privately.

To find out more about the way we handle fees for terrorism defence in London and the UK (both legal aid public funding and private fees), please use the links provided below:

• Our Fees – Crime Cases
• Do I Qualify for Criminal Legal Aid?
• Bespoke Crime Private Fee Service

Related offences

Please note that our expert solicitors also provide advice and support with related matters, including:

• Far Right Terrorism 
• SIAC representation
• Serious and violent crime
• Possession of an offensive weapon
• Racially or religiously aggravated offences
• Murder and manslaughter
• Cyber and social media offences

Related cases

• Not Guilty Terrorism Charges - Old Bailey 2022
• The Ricin Terror Case
• Two brothers held in armed raid on home released without charge
• Not Guilty 28 charges of possessing explosive devices and chemical Weapons 2020

Common questions about terrorism defence in London and the UK

What is an act of terrorism?

Under the Terrorism Act 2000, terrorism is defined as the use or threat of certain act (listed below). In this context, these acts would be carried out with the intent of influencing the government or international organisation, or to intimidate the general public.

These acts could also be carried out with the intent of advancing a political, religious, racial, or ideological cause.

The specific actions that could be considered an ‘act of terrorism’ include:

• Serious violence against a person
• Serious damage to property
• Endangering a person's life (other than that of the person committing the action)
• Creating a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or a section of the public
• Action designed to seriously interfere with or seriously disrupt an electronic system.

The use or threat of an action which involves the use of firearms or explosives is considered to be terrorism, regardless of whether the intent was to influence the government, an international governmental organisation, or to intimidate the public.

Acts of terrorism can occur inside and outside the United Kingdom.

It should be noted that, for an act of terrorism to be convicted, the actual act does not have to have taken place. Any planning for collecting information related to a terrorist is considered to be a crime in its own right under British terrorism legislation.

What does the Terrorism Act 2000 do?

The Terrorism Act 2000 is one of the primary legislations for terrorism law in the UK.

It provides provisions for terrorism charges to be brought for various offences, including fundraising for, and the financing and support of, terrorist activities, possession for terrorist purposes, failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism and being a member of a terrorist organisation.

The Terrorism Act 2000 also allows a constable to stop and search a person who they reasonably suspect to be involved in terrorist activity. This excludes ‘vehicle only’ stop and searches.

Since the passing of the Act, it has been heavily amended by subsequent Acts, including the Terrorism Act 2006.

The Terrorism Act 2006 included a number of new terrorism charges, including preparation of a terrorist act, encouragement of terrorism, dissemination of terrorist publications and training for terrorism.

What is the United Kingdom's policy toward the financing of terrorism?

The UK has various legislative frameworks in place to criminalise any type of financing of terrorist activity.

The offences of fund-raising for terrorism, use and possession, funding arrangements of terrorism and money laundering can all lead to serious sentences for anyone convicted.

In addition, financial sanctions, such as asset freezes, may be imposed to disrupt terrorist financing. The Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (SAMLA) provides the legal framework for the UK to impose, update and lift sanctions.

What is the penalty for terrorism?

The exact penalty you could be liable to face for a terrorism-related offence will depend on a multitude of factors, including the specific offence, the perceived level of culpability, and the harm caused.

As can be expected, the potential sentences for terrorism offences are serious. Life imprisonment can be handed for certain offences, while the minimum sentence you could receive involves high-level community orders. Terrorism offences will typically be triable either way, meaning they can be heard at the Magistrates’ or Crown Court.

Detailed information on the potential sentences for specific terrorism offences have been published by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and can be found here.

How long can you be held under the Terrorism Act?

Under normal circumstances, the police would only be able to hold you for up to 24 hours before charging or releasing you. However, under the Terrorism Act, you can be held for up to 14 days without charge.

What is the maximum sentence for terrorism?

The maximum sentence you could receive for a terrorism offence is life imprisonment.

Contact our terrorism lawyers today

For urgent specialist advice, immediate representation or to speak to us confidentially about allegations of a terrorism offence, please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated team of terrorism lawyers in London, Birmingham or Manchester on telephone:

• Brent & Camden London Office: 020 7624 7771
• Manchester Office: 0161 835 1638
• Birmingham Office: 0121 614 3333
• City of London: 0207 624 7771 - our senior Solicitors and Partners can meet by appointment in the City.

Or email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online enquiry form and our terrorism lawyers will get back to you as soon as possible.

Private Consultation

For a private and confidential consultation, please contact a senior partner on 0207 624 7771 or email our head of crime department Lisa Nicol or Umar Zeb.

In Urgent Cases

For immediate representation and advice from our terrorism lawyers, you can contact our Emergency Number: 07836 577 556 and we will provide you with the urgent assistance you need.