TerrorismU.K. citizens prohibited from traveling to, remaining in designated terrorist areas

Published 11 April 2019

British Home Secretary Sajid Javid said that British citizens who travel to overseas terrorism areas will face up to ten years in jail under new laws, which come into effect today. The legislation targets potential foreign fighters, and making it a punishable offense to enter or remain in a “designated area.”

British Home Secretary Sajid Javid said that British citizens who travel to overseas terrorism areas will face up to ten years in jail under new laws, which come into effect today.

The legislation targets potential foreign fighters, and making it a punishable offense to enter or remain in a “designated area.”

Javid announced the measure last year as part of a government drive to tackle the threat of people going overseas to fight.

The Independent reports that the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act gives the home secretary the power to designate an area as prohibited for British citizens, and if someone enters or remains in that area, he or she could be sentenced to a 10-year jail term.

The law requires that the Home Office has to be convinced that it is necessary to designate an area in order to restrict U.K. nationals and residents from travelling to or remaining in that area.

The legislation contains exemptions to protect those who have a legitimate reason for being in the area, such as journalism, aid work, diplomacy, or attending the funeral of a relative.

Javid stressed that the law does not apply retrospectively, so that it cannot be used against those who have already gone overseas to fight in parts of Syria and Iraq.

The government said it hoped that the new measure will serve as a deterrent and make it easier to prosecute people who return from terrorism hotspots.

It is estimated that about 900 people are believed to have travelled from the U.K. to take part in the conflict in Syria.

The new legislation also makes it illegal to “recklessly” express support for a proscribed organization and obtain or view terrorist material online. It also and extends extra-territorial jurisdiction for some terrorism-related crimes.