Trio of attack plots foiled by Counter-Terrorism Policing during pandemic

The Home Office’s quarterly release of statistics relating to the police’s use of powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 has revealed that there were a total of 185 arrests for terrorism-related activity in the year ending 31 December 2020. That’s 97 (or 34%) fewer than in the previous 12-month period and the lowest annual total since 2011.

Despite the reduction in the number of arrests, which is largely due to an overall reduction in crime since the beginning of the original national lockdown in March last year, the number of terror plots stopped by Counter-Terrorism Policing and its intelligence partners has risen to a total of 28 since March 2017.

Metropolitan Police Service Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon, the senior national co-ordinator for Counter-Terrorism Policing, said: “These statistics tell me two things. First of all, and despite facing unprecedented challenges brought about by the pandemic, Counter-Terrorism Policing continued to keep the public safe by making 185 arrests across more than 800 live investigations, duly halting three possible terror attacks in the process.”

He continued: “Second, while the rest of us have been focused on protecting ourselves and our families from the terrible disease that is the Coronavirus, terrorists have not stopped planning attacks or radicalising vulnerable people online. As we follow the Government’s roadmap out of the tightest restrictions, there will be greater opportunity for terrorists to operate. We want the public to join the police, private sector security staff and retail workers in a collective community effort to minimise the chances of any attack.”

Haydon added: “When we say that ‘communities defeat terrorism’, it’s not just a catchphrase. We know from experience that public information and action helps to save lives and leads to significant arrests like those detailed in these Home Office statistics.

Free online training

Members of the general public can learn more about the role they can play in defeating terrorism by accessing free online training that’s available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/act-awareness-elearning

Taking just 45 minutes to complete, the online training outlines the latest advice from counter-terrorism experts, including how to react in the unlikely event of a terror attack and how to spot and report suspicious activity and behaviour.

Haydon has warned of a worrying trend that’s developing in the arrest statistics, with children under the age of 18 the only age category which saw an increase (rising from 11 to 17 in total). That’s a total of 10% of all arrests, which has risen from just 4% in the previous 12 months.

“Unfortunately,” asserted Haydon, “we’re now seeing increasing numbers of young people arrested in relation to terrorism. It doesn’t have to be this way. Ideally, we would identify when a young person is being led down the path towards participating in terrorist activity and use the Prevent programme to try and put them on a different path.”

Emboldening that point, Haydon added: “Our research tells us that parents, family members and friends are the first to see the changes in behaviour which might indicate that a loved one is being radicalised. Currently, just 2% of people we help through Prevent come to the programme because of concerns raised by those same people who know them best. That’s why we recently launched a new website – www.actearly.uk – and Helpline designed specifically to offer advice and support for parents and family members who think their loved one might be following a dangerous path towards extremism.”

In conclusion, DAC Haydon observed: “Asking for help is a difficult and emotional step, but we must see it for what it is. In short, action that will not ruin their lives, but may well save them.”