Terrorism Act 2000
The Terrorism Act 2000 created a permanent, comprehensive legislative framework for combating terrorism in the United Kingdom, replacing temporary emergency legislation specific to Northern Ireland. The Act provided a broad definition of terrorism that covers the use or threat of action involving serious violence, property damage, or disruption, designed to influence government or intimidate the public for political, religious, or ideological ends. The Act created powers for proscribing terrorist organisations, stop and search powers, counter-terrorist financial investigation powers, and offences relating to terrorist fundraising, membership, and training. The Act has been amended by successive counter-terrorism statutes.
Legal area: Criminal law defines conduct prohibited by the state and prescribes punishments for those who engage in such conduct, serving to maintain public order and protect individuals and property.
Citation: Terrorism Act 2000 (2000 c 11)
Full text: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11
Key Provisions
- Section 1: Definition of terrorism
- Part II: Proscription of terrorist organisations (power to ban)
- Section 11: Membership of a proscribed organisation
- Sections 15-18: Terrorist fundraising, use, and possession offences
- Sections 44-47: Stop and search powers (repealed by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012)
- Section 56: Directing a terrorist organisation
- Schedule 8: Port and border controls
Significance
The Terrorism Act 2000 is the foundation of UK counter-terrorism law. Its broad definition of terrorism has been criticised for potentially capturing lawful protest and industrial action. The proscription regime currently bans over 80 international terrorist organisations. Sections 44-47 stop and search powers were found by the European Court of Human Rights in Gillan v UK (2010) to violate Article 8 rights, leading to their replacement with more narrowly drawn powers. The Act has been amended by the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, Terrorism Act 2006, and Counter-Terrorism Act 2008.