This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48329418
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Britons could be banned from Syria under counter-terrorism laws | Britons could be banned from Syria under counter-terrorism laws |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Home Secretary Sajid Javid has warned he could use new powers to ban British nationals from Syria. | Home Secretary Sajid Javid has warned he could use new powers to ban British nationals from Syria. |
| A new counter-terrorism act allows him to ban people from travelling to, or remaining in, certain areas - or face up to 10 years in prison. | A new counter-terrorism act allows him to ban people from travelling to, or remaining in, certain areas - or face up to 10 years in prison. |
| He said Britons in Syria without good reason were "on notice". | He said Britons in Syria without good reason were "on notice". |
| Mr Javid also announced plans for a new Espionage Bill with "new and modernised" powers to tackle hostile state activity. | |
| The bill may include a requirement for spies in the UK to register with the government so that it is "easier for us to act if there is hostile state activity". | |
| Mr Javid also appointed Jonathan Hall QC as a watchdog to monitor the new terror laws. | |
| The decision to ban travel to Syria comes after Britons who joined the Islamic State group sought to return to the UK. | |
| Speaking to senior security figures in central London, Mr Javid set out for the first time how he expects to use the new Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act. | Speaking to senior security figures in central London, Mr Javid set out for the first time how he expects to use the new Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act. |
| He said: "I've asked my officials to work closely with the police and intelligence agencies to urgently review the case for exercising this power in relation to Syria, with a particular focus on Idlib and the north east. | He said: "I've asked my officials to work closely with the police and intelligence agencies to urgently review the case for exercising this power in relation to Syria, with a particular focus on Idlib and the north east. |
| "So anyone who is in these areas without a legitimate reason should be on notice." | "So anyone who is in these areas without a legitimate reason should be on notice." |
| 'Long time coming' | 'Long time coming' |
| Sir Peter Fahy, former counter-terrorism lead for the Association of Chief Police Officers, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme ahead of Mr Javid's speech: "It's been a long time coming. Clearly the conflict in Syria has been going for many years and there's been this problem of what to do with people who go overseas. | Sir Peter Fahy, former counter-terrorism lead for the Association of Chief Police Officers, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme ahead of Mr Javid's speech: "It's been a long time coming. Clearly the conflict in Syria has been going for many years and there's been this problem of what to do with people who go overseas. |
| He said the legislation was welcome but there would be complications over who it covered. | He said the legislation was welcome but there would be complications over who it covered. |
| The north-western Syrian province of Idlib is the last remaining stronghold controlled by forces opposed to President Bashar al-Assad. | The north-western Syrian province of Idlib is the last remaining stronghold controlled by forces opposed to President Bashar al-Assad. |
| Mr Javid said police and security services "have worked tirelessly" to identify people intending to join the Islamic State group overseas and prevent them from leaving the country. | Mr Javid said police and security services "have worked tirelessly" to identify people intending to join the Islamic State group overseas and prevent them from leaving the country. |
| He told the House of Commons in February that 900 people people from the UK were estimated to have joined the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. | He told the House of Commons in February that 900 people people from the UK were estimated to have joined the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. |
| Of those, 40% were estimated to still be somewhere in the region, 40% to have returned, and 20% to have been killed in battle. | Of those, 40% were estimated to still be somewhere in the region, 40% to have returned, and 20% to have been killed in battle. |
| The issue came to the fore following the case of Shamima Begum - who had her UK citizenship revoked by Mr Javid in February, after she was found in a Syrian refugee camp. | The issue came to the fore following the case of Shamima Begum - who had her UK citizenship revoked by Mr Javid in February, after she was found in a Syrian refugee camp. |
| Ms Begum left London to join the Islamic State group when she was 15. | Ms Begum left London to join the Islamic State group when she was 15. |
| Mr Javid also emphasised the importance of international co-operation in combating terrorism. | Mr Javid also emphasised the importance of international co-operation in combating terrorism. |
| "As these threats become more global we all rely on an international system of defence, policing, security and intelligence - a safety net based upon co-operation and unity," he said. | "As these threats become more global we all rely on an international system of defence, policing, security and intelligence - a safety net based upon co-operation and unity," he said. |
| "These structures rely upon free, democratic nations to pool information, coordinate law enforcement action and surrender suspected criminals across borders. | "These structures rely upon free, democratic nations to pool information, coordinate law enforcement action and surrender suspected criminals across borders. |
| "More than any other country on Earth, the UK has a coherent, connected approach to intelligence and security and when threats appear, the world still turns to the UK for leadership, support, and action." | "More than any other country on Earth, the UK has a coherent, connected approach to intelligence and security and when threats appear, the world still turns to the UK for leadership, support, and action." |
| Sir Peter agreed there was a "tremendous need" to reassure allies in such a way, adding: "The world is a very uncertain place at the moment... the whole issue about Brexit, this issue about Huawei and the situation with Iran is creating tension with the United States. | Sir Peter agreed there was a "tremendous need" to reassure allies in such a way, adding: "The world is a very uncertain place at the moment... the whole issue about Brexit, this issue about Huawei and the situation with Iran is creating tension with the United States. |
| "People involved in counter-terrorism will be looking to see if that does affect the level of co-operation." | "People involved in counter-terrorism will be looking to see if that does affect the level of co-operation." |