There is no formal procedure for the UK to respond when a foreign government designates or sanctions a person residing in the UK. The precise consequences for affected individuals will depend on the nature of the acting country’s designation / sanctions regime and the particulars of the measures imposed. A decision by a foreign government to designate or sanction individuals is a matter for that government and such decisions are taken independently of the UK Government.

The UK takes designation, sanction, and proscription decisions independently in accordance with its own legal frameworks, evidential thresholds and national security assessments.

We continually review and strengthen our counter-terrorism capabilities whilst working closely with domestic and international partners to tackle terrorist threats. This Government will always take the strongest possible action to protect our national security, and our priority remains maintaining the safety and security of our citizens.

The threat to the UK from all forms of terrorism is currently assessed as SEVERE, meaning an attack is highly likely.

The UK National Threat Level is set independently of Government by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), who take into account a wide range of intelligence, to ensure it accurately reflects the threat of a terrorist attack in the UK.

The government continue to work closely with the police and intelligence agencies to monitor and respond to the full range of terrorist threats facing the UK.

The Home Office coordinates the government’s counter-drone policy and closely monitors how drones are being used in all threat areas, including organised crime, conflict zones, and terrorism. We work closely with other Government departments and operational partners, such as the police and military, to understand current and emerging drone and counter-drone technologies and the threats and opportunities they present, and to develop the necessary technical capabilities and legislation to counter those threats.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 establishes a tiered approach to requirements, with those responsible for premises and events in scope required to fulfil different requirements according to the number of individuals it is reasonable to expect may be present at the premises or event at the same time. The requirements are intended to be proportionate and relevant to the premises and events in scope. The responsible person must ensure that the procedures or measures in place are appropriate and reasonably practicable.

The ‘standard tier’ comprises of smaller premises where 200 – 799 individuals may be present.

The ‘enhanced tier’ refers to larger premises and qualifying events where 800 or more individuals may be present.

The Act’s Impact Assessment was undertaken in 2024 to assess costs to premises and events in scope. It estimated that over a 10-year period the cost to standard tier premises is £330 per year, and £5,210 per year to enhanced tier premises. This cost will vary by the type and size of premises and events, who will need to determine what is appropriate and reasonably practicable in terms of required procedures and measures, for their individual circumstances.

The Government is putting a place a robust monitoring and evaluation plan to measure the Act’s effectiveness following implementation.

Whilst those that fall within scope of the Act may wish to begin considering the requirements, they should note that there will be no legal requirement to comply until the legislation comes into force.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 establishes a tiered approach to requirements, with those responsible for premises and events in scope required to fulfil different requirements according to the number of individuals it is reasonable to expect may be present at the premises or event at the same time. The requirements are intended to be proportionate and relevant to the premises and events in scope. The responsible person must ensure that the procedures or measures in place are appropriate and reasonably practicable.

The ‘standard tier’ comprises of smaller premises where 200 – 799 individuals may be present.

The ‘enhanced tier’ refers to larger premises and qualifying events where 800 or more individuals may be present.

The Act’s Impact Assessment was undertaken in 2024 to assess costs to premises and events in scope. It estimated that over a 10-year period the cost to standard tier premises is £330 per year, and £5,210 per year to enhanced tier premises. This cost will vary by the type and size of premises and events, who will need to determine what is appropriate and reasonably practicable in terms of required procedures and measures, for their individual circumstances.

The Government is putting a place a robust monitoring and evaluation plan to measure the Act’s effectiveness following implementation.

Whilst those that fall within scope of the Act may wish to begin considering the requirements, they should note that there will be no legal requirement to comply until the legislation comes into force.

The Home Office publishes official statistics on terrorism-related court outcomes in the quarterly statistical release Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation. This includes data on the number of persons proceeded against by the Crown Prosecution Service for terrorism-related offences, by offence, and the number convicted, by offence. The published tables also distinguish between offences under terrorism legislation and offences under non-terrorism legislation where the offence is considered terrorism-related. The latest statistical release is available for the year ending December 2025: Operation of police powers under TACT 2000, to December 2025 - GOV.UK.

The Home Office publishes official statistics on terrorism-related court outcomes in the quarterly statistical release Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation. This includes data on the number of persons proceeded against by the Crown Prosecution Service for terrorism-related offences, by offence, and the number convicted, by offence. The published tables also distinguish between offences under terrorism legislation and offences under non-terrorism legislation where the offence is considered terrorism-related. The latest statistical release is available for the year ending December 2025: Operation of police powers under TACT 2000, to December 2025 - GOV.UK.

The Immigration Rules provide for the refusal of entry clearance, permission to enter and permission to stay on suitability grounds, including where a person has been convicted of a criminal offence or where a person’s character, conduct or associations mean it is undesirable to allow them to enter or stay in the UK.

Table 24 of the latest Prevent statistics, and Table 14 of the previous release, show HMPPS referrals to Prevent by type of concern from 2015/16 onwards.

We conduct mandatory security checks on all personnel named on sponsor licence applications, including those with Iranian links.

Sponsor licence applications can and will be refused, where it is appropriate to do so.

The Government takes the safety and security of individuals in the United Kingdom very seriously.

There is no general or statutory right for individuals to be informed that they are, or have been, the target of a terrorist organisation. Decisions on whether to provide information or advice are made on a case-by-case basis, informed by the nature of the threat and operational considerations.

Where appropriate, and where it is assessed that an individual may be at heightened risk, the police and other relevant authorities may provide protective security advice and other support.

We must balance the protection of individuals with the need to safeguard sensitive intelligence and ongoing operations.

It is the long-standing policy of successive UK Governments not to comment routinely either on individual cases or intelligence and security matters.

The UK remains an active member of the Global Coalition against Daesh. We will continue to work with all our partners in pursuit of the enduring defeat of Daesh.

We will also not hesitate to take action to protect the UK border and our national security. This can include the exercise of immigration powers; the use of domestic and international watchlists; and working with law enforcement partners to disrupt the travel of individuals who are assessed as a threat.

The Defending Democracy Taskforce coordinates work across Government to continually review and respond to the full range of threats to our democratic system, working closely with the security and intelligence agencies, law enforcement and other partners.

I refer the Hon Member to the question answered by Minister McGovern on 9 March 2026.

As the hon. Gentleman knows, these are matters that we take very seriously and are addressing through the work of the defending democracy taskforce.

Given the ongoing national security concerns, including the risk of foreign interference in elections, will the Home Secretary set out what her Department is doing to ensure that individuals convicted of terrorism offences are prevented from standing for elected office in the UK?

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn’s Law, will require certain public premises and events to be prepared and ready to keep the public safe in a terrorist attack. The Act applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and establishes a minimum legal security standard of protective security at larger premises and events for the first time.

Decisions around the types and numbers of officers deployed, including traffic, firearms and neighbourhood police officers, are operational decisions for Chief Officers to determine in line with their strategic assessment of threat and risk.

In line with the British model of policing by consent, the use of firearms by the police should always be a last resort, however, where an operational need arises, specialist armed officers are available to be deployed. National capability is kept under constant review by the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

Forces in England and Wales regularly review their Neighbourhood Policing resources based on the current and planned risks and threats in their local policing area.

The UK National Threat Level is subject to continuous review and assessment, of which the threat to the UK from all forms of terrorism is currently assessed as SUBSTANTIAL. It is not for the Home Secretary to set the UK National Threat Level. Instead, this is done independently of Government by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), ensuring it accurately reflects the threat of a terrorist attack in the UK.

Separate to the UK National Threat Level, the threat from Iran, and other states, is kept under constant review and we take protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously.

Any attempt by a foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK will not be tolerated. Since the start of 2022, the UK has responded to over 20 Iran-backed plots presenting potentially lethal threats to British citizens and UK residents. The Government’s top priority is our national security, and we will continue to use all appropriate tools at our disposal to protect the UK, and its people, from the threats we face.

The enforcement of the law, including arrests, charges, and sentencing, is a matter for the operationally independent police, Crown Prosecution Service, and the independent judiciary, including associated costs Therefore, the Home Office has not accrued any costs in relation to the costs of enforcing the law for those who have been suspected of committing Palestine Action linked proscription offences.

In relation to the cost of legal proceedings, up until 19 December 2025 which is the latest figure the department holds, the total cost in legal fees charged to the Home Office amounted to £694,390.03, exclusive of VAT. This figure includes the legal fees of the Government Legal Department, fees of counsel instructed on behalf of the Home Secretary, court fees, and other administrative legal costs.

The Government takes the threat from online grooming by terrorist individuals and organisations seriously. Terrorist activity online and illegal radicalising content should have no place on the internet. However, the borderless nature of the internet means that the threat remains persistent.

The Home Office works to influence industry partners to increase action to tackle online content used to radicalise, recruit and incite terrorism by providing threat assessment, insight and support.

We also work with international to collaborate on tackling online radicalisation, and influence and align approaches where possible and respond to emerging threats.

Under the Online Safety Act, tech companies are accountable to Ofcom, the independent online safety regulator, to keep their users safe, and they need to have in place systems and processes to remove and limit the spread of illegal content, including terrorist material.

Through our Prevent programme, partners also deliver a range of activity from face-to-face workshops, online sessions, sessions at conferences, school assemblies etc around building resilience to extremist/terrorist narratives, online safety and the impact of terrorism.

Vehicle registration marks are essential for identifying vehicles involved in crime. Individuals engaged in serious and organised crime, terrorism and other high‑harm offending often rely on the UK’s road network to facilitate their criminal activities.

We work closely with policing partners, the DVLA and other agencies to understand and mitigate risks posed by illegal or obscured number plates. The Home Office supports efforts to prevent their use and to strengthen ANPR effectiveness through investment and enforcement activity. ANPR remains a valuable tool to help the police tackle crime and keep the road safe. We keep the effectiveness of ANPR use under regular review, to ensure it remains a robust tool for identifying vehicles of interest and those engaged in criminal activities.

Comprehensive advice and guidance is available via the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), which includes signposting to a suite of Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) products and counter-measures. The specialist advice regarding HVM includes up-to-date technical resources and best practice advice regarding their deployment, and is available from these organisations.