Surge in White and Female Terror Suspects Pushes Up the Number of Arrests to Record High
Martin Evans, Telegraph, December 9, 2017
A surge in the number of white and female suspects has pushed up the number of terror related arrests in the UK to a record high, official figures have revealed.
A total of 400 people were detained on suspicion of terrorism offences last year, up 54 per cent on the previous 12 months and the highest since records began.
While the rise was down in part to the large number of arrests made in the wake of Manchester and London attacks, figures showed a spike in the number of white suspects held.
The total number of white people arrested on suspicion of terror related offences rose by 77 per cent, up from 81 to 143.
The Asian ethnicity group saw the largest number of arrests overall, 174, which accounted for 44 per cent of the total, a slight drop on the previous 12 months.
It was also revealed that 58 of those held were female — the highest number on record.
The 400 arrests, which were made in the year to September, represented the highest total since data collections started in 2001.
The figure included 12 people detained in connection with the Westminster terror attack; 23 arrested following the bombing of the Manchester Arena; 21 detained in the wake of the London Bridge atrocity; one arrest in connection with the Finsbury Park attack and seven arrests following the Parsons Green tube attack.
A Home Office statistical bulletin said: “As a result, the number of arrests in the year to 30 September 2017 was the highest since the data collection began.”
Out of the 400 people who were arrested 97 people were charged with terrorism related offences; 18 were charged with other offences; 213 were released without charge and 60 were released on bail; 11 faced alternative action and one case was pending.
Earlier this week, Andrew Parker, the head of MI5, revealed that British intelligence had foiled nine terror plots in the last 12 months.
Security Minister Ben Wallace said police and security services “have been clear that we are facing a shift rather than a short-term spike in the terrorist threat”.
He added: “The statistics we are publishing today demonstrate the breadth of work that they undertake, alongside the rest of the criminal justice system, day in and day out to keep us safe.
“But this is not the totality of our work. The whole of society must come together to challenge the terrorist threat.
“The public must remain alert but not alarmed and report any suspicions they have about unusual activity or behaviour to the appropriate authorities.
“Furthermore, the Government is reviewing its counter-terrorism strategy in light of recent attacks to ensure we meet the threat from terrorism now and in the future.”
