Over half of UK terror arrests freed without charge
Regional-UK, Politics, 3/6/2007

A total of 1,166 suspects have been arrested under terrorism legislation in the UK since the 9/11 attacks in the US in 2001 but has led to only 40 convictions, according to new government figures released Monday.

Fewer than a fifth of those arrested in the Terrorism Act 2000 and related legislation by the end of last year were charged with connected offenses and more than half of the suspects were released without any charge at all.

Of the total arrests, 117 were charged with terrorism offenses only, while another 104 were charged with terrorism and other criminal offenses, Home Office figures show.

A further 186 were charged with other offenses including murder, grievous bodily harm, firearms, explosives offenses and fraud, while 74 were handed over to the immigration authorities.

The new statistics, the first to be published in 18 months, show that there have been only 40 terrorism convictions, with a further 180 people convicted under other legislation. A total of 98 are on, or still awaiting, trial.

The low proportion has led to accusations by Muslims, who have been particularly targeted, that the police have been using emergency powers as "fishing expeditions."

Previous Stories:
  Prejudice against Muslims institutionalized in UK media: study   (1/27/2007)
  Third investigation into leading Palestinian charity   (12/30/2006)
  Terrorism threat in Britain 'growing': police chief   (12/23/2006)

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