Terror arrest conviction rate 13%

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Terror arrest conviction rate 13%

Just 13% of people arrested under Great Britain's terrorism laws since the 9/11 attacks were convicted of terror offences, Home Office figures show.

Statistics reveal 56% of 1,471 terror suspects detained between September 2001 and April 2008 were not charged.

Of those arrested, 102 were convicted of terror offences and 94 were convicted on terror-related charges.

The Home Office insisted that the proportion of terror charges to arrests was similar to other offences.

'Real and serious'

Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights group Liberty, said it was "worrying" that "the overwhelming majority" of those arrested were not guilty of any charge and half were not charged at all.

According to the figures, 521 of the terrorism arrests, or 35%, resulted in a charge, of which 340 were terror-related.

The number brought before the courts and convicted on terrorism-related charges, including conspiracy to murder and explosives offences, was 196.

From the total arrests, 56% were not charged and of the remainder other action was taken, including cases being dealt with on immigration matters.

Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said the 196 convictions highlighted the "real and serious threat from terrorism" faced by the UK.

"That is why the government is committed to investing in our counter-terrorist threat and wherever possible seeks to prosecute those involved with terrorism," he added.

"Where we can't prosecute, we seek to deport, and where we can't deport, we seek to disrupt."

Professor Paul Wiles, the Home Office chief statistician, said that the number of convictions was not a "complete record" as not all serious cases had yet been dealt with in the courts.

He said: "The conviction rate against arrests is quite likely under-recording what the eventual rate will be.

"People tend to think that when someone is arrested it is the same as being charged, but that is not the case."

At 31 March 2008, there were some 125 terrorist prisoners in England and Wales.

Of these, 62% were UK nationals and 91% classed themselves as Muslim.

According to the figures, there were 231 terrorism arrests in 2007/8 compared with a yearly average of 227 since 1 April 2002.

Of those arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, 46% were held in pre-charge detention for one day and 66% for less that two days.

The figures also show that six suspects were detained for a full 28 days since the maximum period of pre-charge detention was raised in July 2006. Of the six, three were released and three were charged.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8047477.stm

[spookyturtle 9,466]

What about illegal alien terrorists? They should have even more rights and be completely above the law, that way there will be no fear of a police state.

[mawilson 2,133]

13% is a pretty good rate, no?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I guess it is if you believe in wasting most of a box of eggs when you make a 3-egg omelette.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

13% is pretty good as conviction rates go.

[mawilson 2,133]

13% is pretty good as conviction rates go.

Especially for terrorists.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

TERR'RR!

[fozzie 41]

13% is pretty good as conviction rates go.

I'm not sure about that at all. Conviction rates usually refer to those that are charged not those arrested/suspected. Murder conviction in the US is around 65% (I'LL LOOK UP SOME FACTS BUT i 'M SURE i READ THAT SOMEWHERE). oops, caps lock.

I'd be intereste din to see the conviction rates for other crimes to see how it compares, but 13% sounds shocking.

Edit: DOJ -Adjudication

During 2005, criminal cases were commenced against 91,578 defendants in U.S. district court. Most (88%) were charged with a felony offense. Thirty-four percent of felony defendants were charged with a drug offense; 38% of all defendants were charged with a public-order offense -- including 20% with an immigration offense and 11% with a weapons offense. Fourteen percent were charged with a property offense.

Cases were terminated against 86,680 defendants during 2005. Most (90%) defendants were convicted. Of the 78,042 defendants convicted, 74,226 (or 95%) pleaded guilty or no-contest.

Edited May 13, 2009 by fozzie