Wider Knowledge and Reading Flashcards
What is the Legal Definition of terrorism?
The Terrorism Act 2000 interprets terrorism as the following:
(1) In this Act “terrorism” means the use or threat of action where
a) The action falls within subsection (2)
b) The use or threat is designed to influence the government or an international government organisation or intimidate the public or a section of the public, and
c) The use or threat is made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial, or ideological cause
(2) Action falls within this subsection if it
a) Involves serious violence against a person
b) Involves serious damage to property
c) Endangers a person’s life, other than that of the person committing the action
d) Creates a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or a section of the public, or
e) Is designed seriously to interfere with or seriously to disrupt an electronic system.
What is international terrorism?
This is terrorism from groups such as Al Qaida or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known by many other names such as Daesh which is the Arabic acronym.
These groups hold territory in areas without functioning governments and this makes it easier for them to train recruits and plan attacks. They tend to draw on their own extreme interpretations of Islam to justify their actions.
We have also seen that some attackers will claim the attack on behalf of a group, or the terrorist groups may themselves claim responsibility for incidents after it has happened, alleging their involvement and thus furthering their cause.
Being recognised by such groups is seen as an honour and something that groups, e.g. small homegrown cells, will strive for. ISIL also actively use social media to radicalise individuals and inspire low sophistication lone-act attacks by extremist supporters.
What is Northern Ireland related terrorism?
Although we hear less about this these days, Northern Ireland related terrorism continues to pose a serious threat to British interests.
Although terrorist campaigns have generally ceased, some rebel republican groups continue to mount attacks, primarily against security forces.
What is domestic extremism?
This largely refers to individuals/groups that carry out criminal acts in pursuit of a larger agenda.
This includes, for example, right-wing extremists and lone actors. These people may be seeking to change legislation or influence policy and they are likely to pose a threat to public order (as opposed to national security). Domestic extremists will often be investigated by the police.
Who is responsible for setting the threat levels from Irish and other domestic terrorism?
MI5
Who is responsible for setting threat levels for the UK from international terrorism?
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC)
Threat levels give a broad indication of the likelihood of a terrorist attack and are a tool for police and others to use in determining what protective measures or security responses may be necessary.
The threat levels are as follows:
LOW means an attack is unlikely
MODERATE means an attack is possible but not likely
SUBSTANTIAL means an attack is a strong possibility
SEVERE means an attack is highly likely
CRITICAL means an attack is expected imminently
There are many different methods of attack used by terrorists, some of these are ‘tried and tested’ but occasionally they can be new and more sophisticated.
Here are some of the more common methods:
Explosives: these come in many different shapes and forms. The IRA, for example, often used car bombs whilst the Islamic State of Iraq often use improvised bombs and suicide operatives. Radio-controlled, victim-operated, and postal explosive devices have also been used in Northern Ireland recently.
Shootings: such orchestrated attacks often target Westerners in Europe or whilst they are in the Middle East or North Africa. The 2015 attack in Sousse, Tunisia, is one such example. Dissident republic groups have also used firearms in their attacks against the security forces in Northern Ireland.
Kidnappings: this method is often used for propaganda or financial gain. ISIL, in 2014, released videos claiming to show murders of UK nationals and did so hoping to show strength and spread fear in the West. This threat is high in places where Islamist groups are active, e.g. Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and parts of West, North and East Africa.
Section 14 of the Terrorist Act 2000 states that:
(1) “terrorist property” means:
(a) money or other property which is likely to be used for the purposes of terrorism (including any resources of a proscribed organisation),
(b) proceeds of the commission of acts of terrorism, and
(c) proceeds of acts carried out for the purposes of terrorism.
(2) In subsection (1)
(a) a reference to proceeds of an act includes a reference to any property which wholly or partly, and directly or indirectly, represents the proceeds of the act (including payments or other rewards in connection with its commission), and
(b) the reference to an organisation’s resources includes a reference to any money or other property which is applied or made available, or is to be applied or made available, for use by the organisation.
What is the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy?
What is its aim?
CONTEST is the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy to reduce the risk from terrorism so that people can go about their lives freely and with confidence.
CONTEST is the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy.
It is organised around what four work streams, each of which comprise of a number of key objectives. See below:
Pursue: investigate, disrupt, and stop terrorist attacks
Prevent: stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism
Protect: improve and strengthen our protection against terrorist attacks
Prepare: minimise or mitigate the impact of a terrorist attack
What is Restorative Justice (RJ)?
Considered to be an alternative way of dealing with conflict and harm.
It is a voluntary process involving bringing a person who has suffered harm and a person who has caused harm into communication.
How does/ how can Restorative Justice (RJ) work?
Trained facilitators work with victims and offenders to talk about what happened, who was affected and how, and what can be done to help repair the harm.
RJ gives victims/witnesses a chance to explain the real impact of crime. It empowers them to have a voice whilst also holding offenders to account for what they have done.
Where a defendant is convicted of an offence, the court has various sentencing disposal options available to them.
What are the main ones?
Community sentence
Fine
Custodial sentence
Acquittal
Deferred sentence
Conditional discharge
Absolute discharge
What is a community sentence?
Courts can impose a community order when the offence is serious enough to justify this.
The requirements of the order can combine punishment with activities carried out in the community. These are designed to change offenders’ behaviour and to make amends, sometimes directly to the victim of the crime or the local community. Community sentencing is supervised by Community Rehabilitation Companies.
What is a fine?
For some offences, the court has the option to impose a monetary fine, with or without a community or custodial sentence.
The amount of the fine is set by the court and should reflect the seriousness of the offence and the offender’s ability to pay. Enforcement of this sentence is carried out by Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service bailiffs and enforcement officers.
What is a custodial sentence?
Custodial sentences are reserved for the most serious offences and are imposed when the offence committed is, as section 152(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 describes, ‘so serious that neither a fine alone nor a community sentence can be justified for the offence’.
A custodial sentence may also be imposed where the court believes it is necessary to protect the public. The length of the prison sentence depends on the maximum penalty for the crime and the circumstances of the offence and offender.
What is an aquittal?
If the court finds the defendant not guilty, they are acquitted and are free to go.
What is a deferred sentence?
This is a form of sentence in which the final decision about any punishment is suspended to a later date.
What is a conditional discharge?
If the court sees fit, it can discharge a person conditionally for a specified period of time (no minimum period and not more than three years).
This means that the person must not commit a further offence during that time period.
If they do commit a further offence, they will be guilty of breaching their conditional discharge and will be re-sentenced accordingly.
What is an absolute discharge?
Where a person has pleaded guilty or been convicted of an offence, the court may discharge that person absolutely rather than imposing a sentence. No penalty is imposed, and no conviction is recorded in summary proceedings.
This only happens in certain circumstances. It is the lightest measure that can be ordered by a court following a conviction. It implies that the process of prosecution and finding guilt is itself a sufficient response to the offence.
What is a Community Resolution (CR)?
The nationally recognised term for the resolution of a less serious offence or ASB incident through informal agreement between the parties involved, as opposed to progression through the traditional criminal justice process.
It is primarily aimed at first time offenders where genuine remorse has been expressed, and where the victim has agreed that they do not want the police to take more formal action.
What is a gang?
Section 34 (5) of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 defines gang related drug dealing activity as “the unlawful production, supply, importation, or exportation of a controlled drug which occurs in the course of, or is otherwise related to, the activities of a group that:
(i) Consists of at least three people
(ii) Has one or more characteristics that enable its members to be identified by others as a group.”
What are County Lines and why is this an issue?
County lines relates to the supply of class A drugs (primarily crack cocaine and heroin) from an urban hub into rural towns or county locations.
This is facilitated by a group who may not necessarily be affiliated as a gang, but who have developed networks across geographical boundaries to access and exploit existing drugs markets in these areas.
