We use the full range of capabilities available to disrupt and manage the return of individuals from the conflict zone. Where appropriate, we will also use nationality and immigration powers to deprive individuals of their British citizenship and to exclude foreign nationals from the UK whose presence here would not be conducive to the public good. The Government introduced the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act in 2015 in response to the growing trend of UK nationals travelling overseas to engage in terrorism. Through this Act we introduced further measures that disrupt the ability of people to travel abroad, and to return to the UK, including the lawful temporary seizure of passports at the border, and the introduction of Temporary Exclusion Orders (TEOs). These powers support important police capabilities to manage the risk from potential travellers and are operationally vital.
Individuals who have travelled to the conflict zone must expect to be investigated by the police to determine if they have committed criminal offences and to ensure that they do not pose a threat to our national security. There have already been high profile prosecutions of individuals who have returned from the conflict zone.
Syria returners illustrative example
In 2015, a British woman travels to join Daesh. In 2017 the individual flees Daesh-held territory with a new born baby and they make their way to Turkey. On arrival in Turkey the mother and the child are detained for entering the country illegally. Following the mother’s detention the British authorities are notified. DNA testing of the child is conducted to establish their entitlement to a British passport. Given that the mother has lived in Daesh-held territory, the Home Secretary and a judge approve the use of a Temporary Exclusion Order (TEO) to manage her return to the UK. The TEO allows us to specify the route of return to the UK and to impose obligations upon the individual once they return to help protect members of the public from a risk of terrorism. The mother and her child are subsequently deported to the UK from Turkey via the route specified by the TEO. On arrival in the UK the police launch an investigation into the woman’s activities in Syria to determine whether any crimes have been committed. If there is evidence that a crime has been committed then the mother will be charged and the Crown Prosecution Service will conduct criminal proceedings. If there is no evidence of criminality, the mother is assisted in reintegrating into society, for example, by requiring her to attend a series of sessions with a specially trained de-radicalisation mentor. In the meantime the mother is also obliged – as part of her TEO – to report regularly to a policestation and to notify the Home Office of any change of address. The local authority is involved to ensure that the child is not at immediate risk and appropriate measures are put in place to help safeguard the child’s welfare.
Only a very small number of travellers have returned in the last two years and most of those have been women with young children. Managing the risks from travellers combines interventions from our Prevent and Pursue work strands. We use the expertise built up through Prevent to mitigate the risk they may pose by challenging their views or tailoring our response as appropriate. This can include mandating attendance on the Desistance and Disengagement Programme. Many will be subject to post-traumatic stress, which may impact their future behaviour if not addressed. Children may meet statutory thresholds for social care, or new born children may have experienced poor care after being born in Daesh controlled territory. In order to ensure that their needs and risks are addressed, the Home Office and Department for Education have been working with local authorities and external organisations to ensure support is available to local authorities dealing with this small number of returning families, including that suitable advocates are available for children to act in their best interest and ensure there are responsible adults engaged in their lives.
