Overview
- The commission published its three-year report with about 113 recommendations to tighten the statutory definition of terrorism, limiting property-damage offences to conduct posing serious risks to life, national security or public safety, or involving arson, explosives or firearms.
- It finds Prevent is not fit for purpose and should be integrated into a wider local multi-agency violence-prevention front door, noting 58,000 referrals since 2015 with over 90% showing no counter-terrorism concerns and a record 8,778 referrals in 2024/25.
- Stronger checks on proscription are urged, including review of classified evidence by Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee, a ban on bundling multiple groups in one order, and automatic lapse after five years unless renewed.
- The report trains scrutiny on July’s proscription of Palestine Action after paint damage to RAF Brize Norton aircraft, with more than 2,000 arrests reported for alleged support since the ban took effect on 5 July.
- The Home Office acknowledged the findings and defended the existing framework, while recommending that charges for supporting banned groups be brought only where clear intent is evident.