1. Banning them, securing us?
Lee Jarvis
School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies

2. Countering terrorism

3. Banning terrorists Proscription powers:
Make specific terrorist groups illegal within a particular territory
Criminalise support for and membership of proscribed groups
Trigger further crimes, e.g. uniforms
In the UK, the Home Secretary has the power to proscribe an organisation:
‘…if it commits or participates in acts of terrorism, prepares for, promotes or encourages terrorism or is otherwise concerned in terrorism’
Extended, in 2006, to include the glorification of terrorism

4. The UK in Context June 2017: Compares with:
71 international terrorist organisations listed in the UK
14 in Northern Ireland
Nine groups added to the UK’s list since 2015
September 2017, Red Hand Commando – a Loyalist group – applies to be legalised
Compares with:
60 groups on the US’ Foreign Terrorist Organizations List.
54 organisations listed in Canada
23 organisations listed in Australia
Only 13 across all four

5. Security, democracy, identity
Does banning terrorist groups make us more secure?
Perhaps, although hard to measure
Political and moral implications?
Freedoms of speech, organisation
Rights to resistance and opposition
Identity?

6. Terrorists are We are Good _ Bad Irrational, extremist -
‘cowards [who] like to target civilians’ (Hopkins, 2011)
‘contorted and evil individuals’ (Mercer, 2013)
‘Free speech is a cornerstone of our democracy’ (Blunt, 2010)
‘We must ensure that we properly respect individual freedoms and liberties while providing collective security’ (Brokenshire, 2013)
Irrational, extremist -
Responsible , moderate
‘fundamentalist organisations are, by their nature, barking mad’, (Simpson, 2005)
‘the random slaughter of innocent individuals’ (Grieve, 2005)
‘we all know that the nature of terrorism has changed’ (Smith, 2013)
‘with the utmost seriousness and care’ (Blunkett, 2002)
‘only after the most thorough scrutiny of all the intelligence’ (Bassam, 2005)
The problem
The solution
‘a perpetual threat in this country’ (Ruffley, 2008)
‘We will be attacked again’ (Mercer 2005)
‘supporting the rest of the international community to tackle terrorism’ (Blears, 2005)

7. Thanks for listening!