Pursue, protect, prevent and prepare
Counter-terrorism
Control Orders
Control Orders are legal orders issued by the Home Secretary imposing restrictions on a person in order to protect the public from terrorism.
Control orders can be made against any suspected terrorist, whether a UK national or a non-UK national, or whether the suspected terrorist activity is international or domestic.
The facts about Control Orders
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A control order does not mean ‘house arrest’.
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Control orders enable us to impose conditions on suspected terrorists; these vary and can range from prohibiting them from using specific items or services (such as the internet), to restricting how they associate with specific people, and imposing limitations on movement or curfews.
- Conditions imposed under a control order are tailored to each case to ensure the person cannot take part in terrorist activity.
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The Home Secretary must apply to the courts to impose a control order based on an assessment of the intelligence. If the court allows the order to be made, the case will be automatically referred to the court for a judicial review of the decision.
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In an emergency case, the Home Secretary may impose a provisional order which must then be reviewed by the court within seven days.
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A court may consider the case in open or closed session, depending on the nature and sensitivity of the information under consideration. In closed sessions, special advocates represent the interests of the suspected terrorists.
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Control orders may be imposed for a period of up to 12 months. After that point, an application for renewal must be made.
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A control order and its conditions can be challenged.
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Breach of any of the obligations of the control order without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence punishable with a prison sentence of up to five years and/or an unlimited fine.
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Those subject to control orders may apply for anonymity.
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To date, the government has not sought to make a control order requiring derogation from Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Read more
Read the Prevention of Terrorism Act (new window), which authorised control orders.
