As we look ahead to the new year, we wanted to look back on the role that Counter Terrorism Policing has played in protecting the public by investigating, preventing and deterring terrorist activity throughout 2021. This involves the launch of new campaigns, a sneak peek at the world-leading new Terrorism Operations Centre, and a change in the threat level…
The white supremacist group, The Base, was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK on Friday 16th July 2021. This means that members of The Base or those who invite support for the group could be jailed for up to 14 years and/or face an unlimited fine.
The Base have now been added to the list of proscribed organisations in the UK.
The Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Matt Jukes said: “The Government’s proscription of a fifth Extreme Right Wing Terrorism (ERWT) group in just four years is a sign of growing concerns around terrorism fuelled by this form of hateful ideology. The proscription of ‘The Base’ enables our officers to pursue those people who have aligned to or joined this group, and they will do this with determination as we do against other forms of terrorism.”
Throughout 2021, Extreme Right Wing Terrorism has continued to cause growing concern with a number of sentences for those involved in the hateful ideology.
In September, two teenagers were sentenced for online-related terrorism offences.
Following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East, a 15 year old boy from Derbyshire pleaded guilty in June 2021 to the following offences:
- One count of encouraging terrorism – Section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006
- One count of dissemination of a terrorist publication – Section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006
- One count of possession of a terrorist publication – Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000
A second boy, a 16 year old from South East London, also pleaded guilty in June 2021 to one count under Section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006. He has been sentenced to a 12-month Intensive Referral Order and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £22 court surcharge.
The pair were arrested in September 2020 following a pre-planned, intelligence led investigation.
On Tuesday, October 19 an 18-year old man was sentenced to 11 years and 4 months in prison, after heading up the UK sect of an extreme right wing terrorism group.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted Matthew Cronjager of engaging in the preparation of an act of terrorism and disseminating a terrorist publication. Before the trial began, the 18-year-old pleaded guilty to four other counts of possession of material likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism. Cronjager was an active user of online platforms promoting right wing ideology and had developed an obsession with building or acquiring firearms. In an investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing North East, the teenager was brought to the attention of police after unknowingly engaging in online conversations with an undercover officer.
If you are concerned that a loved one is vulnerable to radicalisation, visit www.actearly.uk for further information and guidance.
If you’ve seen something that doesn’t feel right, report it online and in confidence at gov.uk/ACT
THREAD | Extreme right wing group, The Base, has been proscribed as a terrorist group by the UK Government.
As of Friday 16th July 2021 it is an offence to be a member or support the group.
Read more below ⬇️
— Counter Terrorism Policing UK (@TerrorismPolice) July 19, 2021