Sentencing guidelines for judges dealing with terrorism offences, including glorifying terrorist acts and fundraising for terrorist activity, have come into force.
The guidelines, originally published in March and in force from 27 April, deal with the changing nature of terrorist offending and cover a broad range of activities. They include the preparation of terrorist attacks, causing or attempting to cause an explosion, collecting or sharing extremist material, raising funds for terrorism, glorifying terrorist acts, failing to disclose information about terrorist acts and joining or supporting a banned organisation.
Offences where death or injury result from acts of terrorism are not included as these would be charged as murder or assault.
Previously, judges relied on guidance issued by the Court of Appeal in 2016 relating to the preparation of terrorist acts.
Publishing the guidelines in March, Sentencing Council Chairman Lord Justice Treacy said: ‘Offending can include an extremist cell plotting a deadly attack on the public, someone trying to make a bomb or another recruiting for a terrorist organisation. As well as the threat to people’s lives, terrorist activity threatens the way our society operates. These threats have evolved and we are ensuring that courts have comprehensive guidance to help them sentence offenders appropriately so they are properly punished and their activities are disrupted.’
The guidelines can be found on the Council’s website here.
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