Statistics Reveal Three Plots Foiled By CT Policing And UKIC During COVID-19


Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) and the UK Intelligence Services have foiled three terror attacks since the Covid-19 pandemic began, despite lockdowns causing terrorism-related arrests to fall to their lowest level in nearly a decade.

The Home Office’s quarterly release of statistics relating to the police’s use of powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 revealed there were a total of 185 arrests for terrorism-related activity in the year ending 31 December 2020, 97 (34%) fewer than in the previous 12-month period and the lowest annual total since 2011.

But despite the reduction in the number of arrests, which is largely due to an overall reduction in crime since the beginning of the national lockdown in March last year, the number of terror plots stopped by CTP and their intelligence partners has risen to a total of 28 since March 2017.

The Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon, said: “These statistics tell me two things. Firstly, that despite facing unprecedented challenges brought about by the pandemic, Counter Terrorism Policing continued to keep the public safe by making 185 arrests across more than 800 live investigations – stopping three possible terror attacks in the process.

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Source: Counter Terrorism Policing UK