This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/05/isis-link-as-convictions-for-islamic-extremism-offences-rise-in-the-uk

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Police urge public to help counter UK's complex terror threat Police urge public to help counter UK's complex terror threat
(35 minutes later)
The UK rate of convictions for terror offences related to Islamic extremism nearly doubled in the first half of this decade, according to a analysis that highlights changes since the rise of Islamic State. The police are urging the public to help counter an increasingly complex and varied terrorist threat as a report reveals that the UK rate of convictions for terror offences related to Islamic extremism nearly doubled in the first half of this decade. The UK’s most senior counter-terrorism officer, assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, will launch the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) campaign in Manchester on Monday.
The report by the security thinktank Henry Jackson Society says the security services are getting better at spotting and prosecuting offences related to Islamic extremism, but it identified a number of areas of concern including a shift towards more low-tech attacks and hotspots of offending in London and Birmingham. Citing figures showing that more than a third of “high-risk” terror investigations were aided by information provided by the public, he will say increased public engagement will be central to countering future threats.
Rowley said: “Advances in technology make it more complex and challenging for us to spot would-be terrorists, because it’s easier for them to be in contact with others and be radicalised in a relatively short space of time.
“The threat is becoming more varied and the move towards low-tech attacks on crowded places, like those we have seen in major European cities and beyond, makes it even more important everyone remains vigilant and acts by calling us confidentially if they are concerned about suspicious activity.”
The campaign launch follows the publication of a report by a right-leaning security thinktank, the Henry Jackson Society, which says the security services are getting better at spotting and prosecuting offences related to Islamic extremism, but that there remain a number of areas of concern, including a shift towards more low-tech attacks and hotspots of offending in London and Birmingham.
The researchers looked at 264 convictions for terror offences relating to 253 people arrested between 1998 and the end of 2015, as well as five suicide bombings, and divided the figures into two time periods, before and after the end of 2010.The researchers looked at 264 convictions for terror offences relating to 253 people arrested between 1998 and the end of 2015, as well as five suicide bombings, and divided the figures into two time periods, before and after the end of 2010.
The report found that there were on average 23 terrorism offences related to Islamic extremism a year between 2011 and 2015, compared to an average of 12 during the preceding 13 years. One-third of all the offences looked at were carried out after 2010. The report found that there were on average 23 terrorism offences related to Islamic extremism a year between 2011 and 2015, compared with an average of 12 during the preceding 13 years. A third of all the offences looked at were carried out after 2010.
Only 37% of convictions were related to planning an attack while one-third related to facilitating terrorism, for example through fundraising. Bombing remained the most common form of attack planned, however, an increase in the number of more low-tech attacks attempted or carried out, such as stabbings or beheadings, is attributed to guidance from Isis. Only 37% of convictions were related to planning an attack, while a third related to facilitating terrorism, for example through fundraising. Bombing remained the most common form of attack planned, however, an increase in the number of more low-tech attacks attempted or carried out, such as stabbings or beheadings, is attributed to guidance from Isis.
The remaining convictions were for either travel offences or “aspirational” terror activity that did not pose an imminent threat or was limited in scope. The proportion of offences designated as aspirational rose from 15% in the first 13 years to 23% in the last five years.The remaining convictions were for either travel offences or “aspirational” terror activity that did not pose an imminent threat or was limited in scope. The proportion of offences designated as aspirational rose from 15% in the first 13 years to 23% in the last five years.
More than three-quarters of all offences were committed by people already known to the authorities in some way, such as having come under surveillance by the security services or having previous convictions. More than three-quarters of all offences were committed by people already known to the authorities in some way, having, for example, come under surveillance by the security services or incurring previous convictions.
The report also claims that women’s involvement in Islamic terrorism has risen significantly, accounting for 11% of offences from 2011 compared with 4% in the previous years. However, women represent a tiny proportion of the total convictions, with only 18 cases since 1998, and more than half were found to have been aiding a man. More than half of the offences looked at were carried out by men in their 20s. The report also claims that women’s involvement in Islamic terrorism has risen significantly, accounting for 11% of offences from 2011 compared with 4% in the previous years. However, women represent a tiny proportion of total convictions, with only 18 cases since 1998, and more than half were found to have been aiding a man. More than half of the offences looked at were carried out by men in their 20s.
People born in Britain accounted for most offences, but the report suggests that certain areas of the country are producing more people implicated in Islamic terror. Of all offences, 43% were carried out by people living in London at the time of their arrest. A further 18% came from the West Midlands, with 80% of those in Birmingham. Though most were raised as Muslims, 16% were converts. Deprivation also appears to play a role, with more than half of all offences carried out by people who were neither employed nor in education. People born in Britain accounted for most offences, but the report suggests that certain areas of the country are producing more people implicated in Islamic terror. Of all offences, 43% were carried out by people living in London at the time of their arrest. A further 18% came from the West Midlands, four-fifths of whom were from Birmingham. Though most were raised as Muslims, 16% were converts. Deprivation also appears to play a role, with more than half of all offences carried out by people who were neither employed nor in education.
The report’s author, Hannah Stuart, said the figures should help the police focus their efforts to combat terrorism carried out by Islamic extremists: “This report poses some particular challenges for the authorities. While it confirms widely held conceptions, such as the majority of UK terror offenders are young males, it also highlights new threats that have developed since the millennium. The report’s author, Hannah Stuart, said the figures should help the police focus their efforts to combat terrorism carried out by Islamic extremists: “This report poses some particular challenges for the authorities. While it confirms widely held conceptions, such as [that] the majority of UK terror offenders are young males, it also highlights new threats that have developed since the millennium.
“Our security services will be particularly concerned that the major threat continues to be home-grown – and that females are playing an ever-increasing role in terrorism. Such a high concentration of offenders in London and Birmingham will also focus the minds of policymakers when it comes to deciding where to target our counter-terrorism efforts. “Our security services will be particularly concerned that the major threat continues to be home-grown – and that females are playing an ever increasing role in terrorism. Such a high concentration of offenders in London and Birmingham will also focus the minds of policymakers when it comes to deciding where to target our counter-terrorism efforts.
“As we continue to improve our policing of Islamism-inspired terrorism – the prevalent national security threat of our age – we should be aware that the vast majority of UK-based terrorists do not act alone. This research shows that the overwhelming majority are part of wider networks, formed online and in person, with family and friends – and most have been radicalised here in the UK.”“As we continue to improve our policing of Islamism-inspired terrorism – the prevalent national security threat of our age – we should be aware that the vast majority of UK-based terrorists do not act alone. This research shows that the overwhelming majority are part of wider networks, formed online and in person, with family and friends – and most have been radicalised here in the UK.”
The Muslim Council of Britain’s treasurer, Talha Ahmad, said every conviction for terror was a source of alarm, but pointed out that more terror offences had been created in recent years and that the total number related to Islamic extremism remained very low. He added that the report showed the importance of working with and supporting mainstream Muslim organisations to counteract the forces driving people to extremism.
“There are at least 25% of the [terrorism] cases where they are not known to the authorities. The challenge is for society as a whole … to play a role, and the only way we can play a role is not marginalising a single community as as suspect community.
“The moment we do that, we lose an opportunity to create an environment in which it is difficult for for terrorists to thrive.”