Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many British citizens who travelled to (1) Iraq, or (2) Syria, to join Islamic State have since returned to the UK; how many such individuals are being monitored by the security services; how often are their social media posts monitored; and how many have been prosecuted.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Since 2013 over 900 UK-linked individuals of national security concern have travelled to engage with the Syrian conflict, against the advice of the Foreign Office. Of these, approximately 25% have been killed in the conflict and just under half have returned to the UK.
All of those who have returned have been investigated and the majority have been assessed to pose no, or a low, security risk. As of 2018 there had been around 40 convictions of individuals prosecuted following their return from Syria, for a range of offences either connected to their activities overseas or as a result of subsequent Counter-Terrorism investigations.
It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing operational activity by the Security Service.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Daesh fighters are known to have returned to the UK; how many such fighters and individuals assisting Daesh in different capacities have been prosecuted in the UK courts, including anyone who has (1) financed, or (2) recruited for, Daesh; on what charges any such individuals have been prosecuted; and what progress they have made on the proposal to establish an international ad-hoc tribunal for Daesh.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Around 900 people have travelled from the UK to engage with the conflict in Syria and Iraq, against the advice of the Foreign Office.? Of these, approximately 20% have been killed in the conflict and around 40% have returned to the UK.
The Governments priority is the safety and security of the people who live here. All of those who have returned, have been investigated and the majority have been assessed to pose no, or a low security risk. Around 40 individuals have been convicted on their return from Syria/Iraq, either because of offences committed overseas or for other activity linked to their involvement in terrorism. Individuals can be convicted in UK courts of offences committed overseas (including preparation of terrorism, encouragement of terrorism and membership of a proscribed organisation). Furthermore, through the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, we have extended this to new offences including: inviting or recklessly expressing support for a proscribed organisation and for sharing their propaganda.
The UK continues to work with international partners, as well as partners in the region in seeking to secure the prosecution of individuals who have committed crimes in the name of Daesh. Any such justice mechanism must respect human rights and the rule of law.
Asked by: Lord Anderson of Ipswich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many persons formerly resident in the UK are known to have returned to the UK after travelling to the so-called Islamic State in Iraq or Syria; how many such persons have been subject to Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures and/or Temporary Exclusion Orders; how many such persons have been convicted of terrorist offences since their return; how many such convictions are for offences committed while abroad with the so-called Islamic State; and how many such convictions are for offences committed after their return to the UK.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government’s number one priority remains the safety and security of its citizens. All of those who have returned have been investigated and the majority have been assessed to pose no, or a low security risk. There have been around 40 convictions of individuals following their return from Syria, for a range of offences connected to their activities overseas or subsequent counter-terrorism investigations.
There are a number of tools available to law enforcement and security agencies to manage the threat posed by returning UK citizens suspected of involvement in terrorism-related activity abroad including Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (TPIMs) and Temporary Exclusion Orders (TEOs).
The total number of TEOs imposed in 2017, the first year the power was used, was nine. As at 31 May 2018, there were eight TPIM notices in force, seven of which related to British Citizens. These figures were published in the 2018 Disruptive and Investigatory Powers Transparency Report. Due to national security considerations, it would not be appropriate to provide a further breakdown of these figures.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to monitor UK citizens in prison in northern Syria who are believed to have been supporting or fighting with ISIS.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
We recognise that the situation in northern Syria is fragile and complex. We are continuing to work closely with international partners and partners in the region to address issues associated with foreign terrorist fighters. It would not be appropriate to comment further on the monitoring of UK-linked individuals in detention in northern Syria.
The Government’s position remains that those who have fought for or supported Daesh should, wherever possible, face justice for their crimes in the most appropriate jurisdiction, which will often be in the region where their offences have been committed. Any decision in relation to the continued detention, transfer or prosecution of detainees is ultimately a matter for authorities under whose jurisdiction the individuals are detained or located.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with her international counterparts on ensuring that UK citizens who were ISIS fighters and are imprisoned in Iraq and Syria cannot evade justice.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The UK Government is clear that those individuals who have fought for, or supported Daesh, whatever their nationality, should face justice and accountability through prosecution in the most appropriate jurisdiction, which will often be within the region where their offences have been committed.
We welcome international efforts and continue to work closely with international partners to find a sustainable, long-term solution to the complex issue of suspected Daesh terrorists, and in the pursuit of justice of those who have participated in terrorism overseas.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to invite the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation to report to the Home Secretary upon the options and possible solutions for dealing with cases of minors who wish to return to the UK from territories formerly held by Daesh, and who may hold nationality of both the UK and another country, where (1) a country refuses to admit the individual concerned, and (2) such a minor is at risk of capital punishment, torture or inhuman or degrading treatment.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government is aware that there are British national minors in Internally Displaced Persons camps in Syria, and we continue to work at pace with our international partners on these issues. The Government has no current plans to ask the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation to report on this topic.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Home Secretary on 18 February (HC Deb, col 1198), what consideration they have given to updating the Treason Act 1945 to provide a tenable basis for the prosecution of British citizens who (1) participate in, (2) help to fund, and (3) organise, ISIS inspired atrocities overseas.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
To prosecute terrorists for treason risks giving their actions a political status or glamour they do not deserve, rather than treating them merely as criminals. The UK has a comprehensive range of terrorism offences and other powers, which we consider the most appropriate means of dealing with foreign terrorist fighters. Additionally, the Government has just passed the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act, which updates terrorism offences and introduces new powers, to reflect the threat we face today from foreign terrorist fighters. This will provide the police and intelligence services with the powers they need to protect the public.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to transferring British nationals detained in Syria or Iraq to the UK to be prosecuted for their involvement and complicity in the atrocities perpetrated by Daesh; and what discussions they have had, if any, with the governments of Syria and Iraq in relation to such transfers.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are in ongoing discussions with our partners concerning the future of Daesh members detained by the Syrian Defence Forces in north-east Syria. If a UK national does return from Syria, it is for the police and Crown Prosecution Service to decide if they should be prosecuted.
We have no diplomatic engagement with the Syrian regime, and therefore we have had no recent discussions with them about transferring British nationals detained in Syria to the UK or any other subject.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with the government of the United States about Daesh fighters of British nationality being transferred to the detention centre in Guantanamo Bay.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK's long-standing position remains that the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay should close. We continue to engage with the US Government on this issue, as we do on a range of national security issues.
Asked by: Ian C. Lucas (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the offences with which each returning ISIS combatant, who has been prosecuted, has been charged with in each year since 2011.
Answered by Ben Wallace
Approximately 40 individuals have been prosecuted on their return from Syria, either because of offences committed overseas or for activity linked to their involvement in conflict overseas. The offences cover TACT offences and non-TACT offences, but are only included if they were the result of investigations into terrorist-related activity. Not all of the convictions relate to activity in Syria or even TACT offences. All 40 were found guilty of the offences they were charged with.
We do not comment on specific operational matters in order to protect our national security so as not to reveal operational tactics. It would therefore be inappropriate to break down these figures further or to release information about the specific cases involved.
Please note that the safety and security of our country, our people and our communities remains the Government’s number one priority.
Around 900 people of national security concern travelled from the UK to engage in the conflict in Syria and Iraq. Of these, approximately 20% have been killed while overseas, and around 40% have returned to the UK.
The majority of those who have returned, did so in the earlier stages of the conflict, and were investigated on their return. A significant proportion of these individuals are assessed as no longer being of national security concern.
Everyone who returns from taking part in the conflict in Syria or Iraq must expect to be investigated by the police to determine if they have committed criminal offences, and to ensure that they do not pose a threat to our national security.