Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill — Third Reading — 11 Sep 2018 at 19:42

The majority of MPs voted in favour of a series of new and strengthened laws intended to tackle terrorism.

Key provisions of the Bill included^[1][2]:

• Making it an offence to express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation in circumstances where the perpetrator is reckless as to whether a person to whom the expression is directed will be encouraged to support a proscribed organisation.
• Making in an offence to publish an image of an item of clothing or an article in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that the person is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation.
• Making it an offence to wear clothing, or wear, carry or display articles in a public place in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that an individual is a member or supporter of the proscribed organisation.
• Making it an offence to download a document or record of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.
• Making it an offence to enter, or remain in, an area designated under the Terrorism Act 2000.
• Clarifying the law against encouraging terrorism and disseminating terrorist publications.
• Extending the circumstances in which terrorist offending abroad may be prosecuted in the United Kingdom, whether the offence is committed by UK citizens or otherwise.
• Increasing the maximum penalty for four terrorism offences.
• Extending the circumstances where courts must consider a connection to terrorism, to cover Northern Ireland and a wider range of offences.
• Amending provisions relating to extended determinate sentences and sentence for offenders of particular concern.
• Conferring a power on the police to enter and search the home address of an Registered Terrorism Offender.
• Amending the law relating to Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Notices, including introducing the power to charge for their implementation and to deploy bollards or other obstructions.

MPs were considering the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill^[1].

The motion supported by the majority of MPs in this vote was:

• That the Bill be now read the Third time.
• [1] Parliament's webpage on the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill
• [2] Explanatory notes to the provisions of the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill

Debate in Parliament |