TERRORISM CONVICTION RATES

Over the weekend there was a much reported arrest of suspected Islamists plotting a Nairobi-style attack in Great Britain. This was just a few days after the head of MI5 had tried to mug us all off by warning us that thousands of Islamic extremists were itching to kill us all and were receiving their dastardly training in Syria. However, in the same warning we were not told that:
1. MI5 had a Covenant of Security with the Islamic extremists which allowed them to live in and operate from Great Britain as long as they did not damage British interests,
2. the killer of Drummer Lee Rigby, Michael Adebalajo, was under MI5 surveillance while he preached on the streets of Woolwich begging and pleading with Muslims to go to Syria to cut the throats of Syrian children in a Jihad against President Assad.

Reports of the arrest stated that the men arrested had been under surveillance for some time.

So what is the likelihood that these arrests will result in a successful conviction for terrorism?

Between 11 September 2001 and 31 March 2013, 330 individuals have been convicted of terrorism-related offences, including murder, illegal possession of firearms and explosives offences. 2,419 people have been arrested under the Terrorism Act during this period. As of 31 March 2013, 121 prisoners both, convicted and awaiting trial, were classified as terrorists or domestic extremists. For more statistical information on the operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation, see the GOV.UK website:

[source : Arrests and Convictions, MI5, https://www.mi5.gov.uk/home/the-threats/terrorism/international-terrorism/international-terrorist-plots/arrests-and-convictions.html, Accessed 15th October 2013]

So in well over 11 years, 2419 arrests have been made under the Terrorism Act resulting in just 330 convictions, some of which are not directly linked to the Terrorism Act. At best this is a 14% conviction rate.

I hope that this was not a knee-jerk arrest and that we do see full convictions. However, the media used the tell-tale the-plot-as-such-was-not-advanced-and-was-in-its-early-stages.

So take from that what you want and will.