Counter-Terrorism Act 2008

Act of Parliament

This Act is being prepared for publication.

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Summary of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008

The Bill contains a number of provisions which the Government states are designed to enhance counter-terrorism powers. The main elements of the Bill are:

• a provision to allow the pre-charge detention of terrorist suspects to be extended from 28 days to 42 days in certain circumstances
• changes to enable the post-charge questioning of terrorist suspects and the drawing of adverse inferences from silence
• imposing requirements on people convicted of terrorist offences to let authorities know where they are living and any changes to their circumstances
• enhanced sentencing of offenders who commit offences with a terrorist connection
• provision for inquests and inquiries to be heard without a jury.

The Bill would also confer further powers to gather and share information for counter-terrorism and other purposes, and amend the law relating to asset-freezing procedures.

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