Sentencing Council: invitation to comment on the draft terrorism guideline

I am pleased to enclose a link to the Sentencing Council’s consultation paper on terrorism which will run from today until 22 November 2017. https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/consultations/

The Council is consulting for a reduced period of six weeks in order to expedite the production of guidelines in this area, following the recent terrorist incidents.

The consultation paper seeks views on guidelines for nine types of terrorism: preparation of terrorist acts (section 5 Terrorism Act 2006), use of explosive substances (sections 2 and 3 Explosive Substances Act 1883), encouragement of terrorism (sections 1 and 2 Terrorism Act 2006), membership of a proscribed organisation (section 11 Terrorism Act 2000), support for a proscribed organisation (section 12 Terrorism Act 2000), funding terrorism (section 15-18 Terrorism Act2000), failure to disclose information about acts of terrorism (section 38B Terrorism Act 2000), possession for terrorist purposes (section 57 Terrorism Act 2000), and collection of terrorist information (section 58 Terrorism Act 2000).

Offences involving endangerment of life are inevitably very serious and these offences cover an extremely wide range of factual circumstances, making them difficult and sensitive offences to sentence.

As with all the draft guidelines which the Council produces, your views are important and the Council values your comments as they help to inform the production of the definitive guideline.

I appreciate that you have a number of competing demands on your time but do hope that you will find time to participate in this consultation exercise. Your response can be made in a number of ways:

· by email to: Consultation@sentencingcouncil.gsi.gov.uk

· online (www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk) or

· by post to the Office of the Sentencing Council.

I am very grateful to you for taking the time to consider the Sentencing Council’s proposals.

Yours sincerely

Steve

Steve Wade

Head of the Office of the Sentencing Council

Gareth Sweny

Office of the Sentencing Council

Room EB14

Royal Courts of Justice

Strand

London WC2A 2LL

T: 020 7071 5791