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Bill · started in the Commons

Counter-Terrorism Act 2008

A Bill to Confer further powers to gather and share information for counter-terrorism and other purposes; to make further provision about the detention and questioning of terrorist suspects and the prosecution and punishment of terrorist offences; to impose notification requirements on persons convicted of such offences; to amend the law relating to asset freezing proceedings under United Nations terrorism orders; to amend the law relating to inquests and inquiries; to amend the definition of “terrorism”; to amend the enactments relating to terrorist offences, control orders and the forfeiture of terrorist cash; to provide for recovering the costs of policing at certain gas facilities; to amend provisions about the appointment of special advocates in Northern Ireland; and for connected purposes.

Now an Act of Parliament

The story so farThe Counter-Terrorism Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 24 January 2008 by Jacqui Smith (Labour). It completed its passage through Parliament and became law as the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008, receiving Royal Assent on 26 November 2008.

What the bill does

<p>The Bill contains a number of provisions which the Government states are designed to enhance counter-terrorism powers. The main elements of the Bill are:</p><ul><li>a provision to allow the pre-charge detention of terrorist suspects to be extended from 28 days to 42 days in certain circumstances </li><li>changes to enable the post-charge questioning of terrorist suspects and the drawing of adverse inferences from silence </li><li>imposing requirements on people convicted of terrorist offences to let authorities know where they are living and any changes to their circumstances </li><li>enhanced sentencing of offenders who commit offences with a terrorist connection </li><li>provision for inquests and inquiries to be heard without a jury.</li></ul><p>The Bill would also confer further powers to gather and share information for counter-terrorism and other purposes, and amend the law relating to asset-freezing procedures.</p>

Progress through Parliament

  1. 1st reading Commons 24 Jan 2008
  2. 2nd reading Commons 1 Apr 2008
  3. Programme motion Commons 1 Apr 2008
  4. Money resolution Commons 1 Apr 2008
  5. Committee stage Commons 22 Apr to 15 May 2008
  6. Report stage Commons 10 Jun to 11 Jun 2008
  7. Programme motion Commons 10 Jun 2008
  8. 3rd reading Commons 11 Jun 2008
  9. 1st reading Lords 12 Jun 2008
  10. 2nd reading Lords 8 Jul 2008
  11. Committee stage Lords 9 Oct to 21 Oct 2008
  12. Report stage Lords 4 Nov to 11 Nov 2008
  13. 3rd reading Lords 17 Nov 2008
  14. Programme motion Commons 19 Nov 2008
  15. Consideration of Lords amendments Commons 19 Nov 2008
  16. Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons Lords 24 Nov 2008
  17. Royal Assent Unassigned 26 Nov 2008

Source: the official bill page. Last updated 25 Feb 2009.