Press Releases & Publications

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Guidance on Terrorism Legislation

Guidance on the Terrorism Act

Home Office Circular 038/2004 - Issued 1 July 2004
Guidance for the police on issues to be considered for standard section 44 authorisations.

Home Office Circular 02/2004 - Issued 20 January 2004
Guidance for the police on the implementation of the amendment to schedule 8 of the Terrorism Act 2000 to extend the maximum period of detention that a terrorist suspect can be held without charge from 7 to 14 days.

Home Office Circular 42/2003 - Issued 5 September 2003
Guidance for the police in the application of 9 of Schedule 8 to the Terrorism Act 2000, subsequent to the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Brennan v the United Kingdom. (Concerns the implications of this ruling with regard to police questioning of suspected terrorists detained under s41 and under paragraph 2 of Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 - i.e. Ports and Border Controls, and Arrest without Warrant.) This circular supercedes HOC 40.

Home Office Circular 03/2001 - Issued February 2001
Detailed guidance on the Terrorism Act 2000. This circular supersedes Home Office Circulars 26/1984; 84/1985; 33/1986; 27/1989 and 60/1989.

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Guidance on the Anti-Terrorism, Crime & Security Act 2001:

The following Draft Statutory Instruments were laid before Parliament on 11 September, and are available on the website of Her Majesty's Stationery Office:

Retention of Communications Data (Extension of Initial Period) Order 2003 and
Explanatory Memorandum (file size 48kb)

Retention of Communications Data (Code of Practice) Order 2003,
Explanatory Memorandum (file size 22kb) and
Code of Practice (file size 174kb)

Home Office Circular 32/2002 - Issued 17 June 2002 (file size 24kb)
Concerns Section 94 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime & Security Act: Removal of Disguises; Part 10 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime & Security Act.

Home Office Circular 30/2002 - Issued 16 May 2002 (file size 51kb)
Guidance for the police and public on the implementation of Sections 1-3 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime & Security Act 2001 - Part 1: Terrorist Property.

Home Office Circular 24/2002 - Issued 3 May 2002 (file size 173kb)
A protocol between the Ministry of Defence Police and Home Office Police Forces. (This cancels Home Office circular 17/1999, and addresses jurisdiction, areas of responsibility, accountability, consultation and co-operation; Part 10 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime & Security Act.)

Home Office Circular 25/2002 - Issued 3 May 2002 (file size 170kb)
A protocol between British Transport Police and Home Office Police Forces, addressing jurisdiction, areas of responsibility, accountability, consultation and co-operation; Part 10 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime & Security Act)

Home Office Circular 16/2002 - Issued 8 April 2002
Concerns Part 6 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime & Security Act 2001 - Weapons of Mass Destruction: Implementation. (Strengthens current legislation controlling chemical, nuclear and biological weapons.)

Home Office Circular 7/2002 - Issued 28 February 2002
Guidance for the police and public on the implementation of Section 89; Sections 113-115; Sections 117-120 and Section 121 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime & Security Act 2001. (Part 13 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime & Security Act.)

Home Office Circular 2/2002 - Implemented 14 February 2002
Concerns the international application of the UK law on corruption (the common law and the Prevention of Corruption Acts), Part 12 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime & Security Act.

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