CTB NEWS INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
UK funded Anti-Terrorism Police Unit opens in Kenya
E A UK-funded Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) designed to provide a dedicated space to work on terrorism cases has been opened in Mombasa, Kenya. The building has dedicated
spaces for different ATPU teams – investigations, evidence analysis and forensics - enabling them to work together under one roof. It also has a multi-agency room to facilitate working with other national
security bodies and international partners in a secure environment. Over the last year, the UK has supported the ATPU with various activities including training on terrorist financing and the delivery of an internationally-accredited ‘Training of Trainers’ programme. The UK government claims that it has helped to reduce vulnerability to radicalisation of 800 Kenyans through engagement with communities and civil society organisations.
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INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
Neo Nazi groups present ‘cocktail of risk’ says McCallum In the first time that the security services of the UK and US have shared a platform, FBI director Chris Wray and MI5 director general Ken McCallum used it to warn of the growing longterm threat posed by China to UK and US interests, but also warned of the difficulties posed by domestic terror cases that increasingly cross borders. McCallum remarked that in Britain, investigations involving individuals motivated by racism, neo-Nazism, or related hateful ideologies represent about 20 percent of the terrorism caseload, while many of the individuals of concern are at a young age. He said: “With the neo-Nazi racist
groups, there is, if anything, a greater emphasis on juveniles within the caseload and a more obsessive interest in weaponry — in many cases even before there is some kind of attack planned. There’s kind of an interest in weaponry for its own sake, so it creates a very difficult cocktail of risk.” Racist violence has generally been categorised as a domestic terror threat, but perpetrators increasingly appear to draw inspiration from people in foreign countries who conducted their own terrorist attacks. In the United States back in May, the suspect in the Buffalo market shooting in which ten black people
E were killed showed admiration for Brenton Tarrant, the Australian gunman who killed 51 people at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
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TERRORISM OFFENCES
Revised guidelines for terrorism sentencing published The Sentencing Council has published updated sentencing guidelines for terrorism offences in England and Wales.The revisions come into effect on 1 October and reflect changes brought in by the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 and the CounterTerrorism and Sentencing Act 2021. Revisions to the Preparation of Terrorist acts and Explosive substances (terrorism only) guidelines include new guidance for judges sentencing offenders who meet the criteria for a ‘serious terrorism sentence’.This is a new sentence that carries a minimum penalty of 14 years’ custody unless exceptional circumstances apply. New guidance considers whether
exceptional circumstances justify a departure from that sentence. The revised guidelines also include: the Collection of terrorism information guideline which now covers offenders who view material over the internet or
download it to use in a specific terrorist act, with a up to 14 years in custody. Sentencing Council member, Mrs Justice McGowan, said: “Terrorism offences are thankfully rare but they are serious and can cover a wide range of factual circumstances, making them difficult and sensitive offences to sentence. For this reason, the Council has ensured that the guidelines are kept up to date and include additional guidance for sentencers. “These revised guidelines will ensure consistency and transparency in the sentencing of these offences.”
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ISSUE 51 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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