Possession of Articles for Terrorist Purposes

The prosecution will need to prove that the accused was on any premises at the same time as the article – of that the article was at a premises that is occupied by the accused habitually, and not just as a member of the public.

In defence, the accused will need to prove to the court that they had no knowledge of the article being on the premises or ‘no control’ over the article.

Trials for possession of articles for terrorist purposes offences are help in a Magistrates Court or in a Crown Court.

If you’re contacted by the police about your involvement in a possession of articles for terrorist purposes, it’s important that you understand that taking steps to take to protect yourself can make all the difference to the outcome of your case.

By seeking legal advice from a lawyer immediately, the lawyer and his team will be able to begin crafting an effective defence strategy for you.

There’s no doubt that that the law courts are frightening. Being found guilty of possessing articles for terrorism can mean being given a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

Typically, prosecutors could have evidence from surveillance cameras, undercover police officers, or evidence provided by a third party. This is a challenging situation but one that can be improved by the attention of a good legal team with experience in this field.

Anybody who finds themselves in this situation is likely to be feeling anxious about what might happen to you. We are here to support you both emotionally and practically by providing support. We have collected some of the questions you may have about your situation and answered them. If you cannot see what you need here, call us on 0208 888 5225

Have you been charged or arrested for possession of articles for terrorist purposes?   

If you or somebody close to you has been charged or arrested in connection to a possession of articles for terrorist purposes case, you could be feeling frightened, stressed and worried about what the outcome of an investigation might be.

In some cases, you may have been invited to the police station to discuss your involvement, or you may have been charged with this crime when you should have been charged with possession.

By seeking the help of an experienced lawyer, you can position yourself in a more advantageous situation. A lawyer will be able to create a robust defence strategy for you and can ask to see any further evidence that the police may not have yet disclosed.

What acts are considered possession of articles for terrorist purposes?

We’ve put some examples of what an act of possession of articles for terrorist purpose crime might be so that you can understand more about this offence:

Possession of a weapons to use for terrorist purposes – for example, rifles, knives, bombs or bomb making materials that are kept in people’s possession.

Possession of materials that may be used for training for terrorist activities – for instance, a guidebook, video or other communication that may be used to provide how to commit a terrorist activity.

Whatever your situation is, one thing that you need to take very seriously is the recommendation not to visit a police station without being supported by a competent lawyer. Even if the police ask you in for a ‘meeting’ or a ‘chat’, anything you say to the police can be used as evidence against you in court. The police are known for withholding evidence and setting traps. You need your lawyer with you to avoid these situations.

What happens in an investigation into possession of articles for terrorist purposes offence?

When a possession of articles for terrorist purposes investigation takes place, unsurprisingly it can be a very uncomfortable time. The accused can feel anxious and worried. Their dependents can stress over how they will be taken care of in terms of income if the accused is handed a prison sentence if convicted. Everything feels scary and unsettled.

If you haven’t already had a lot of contact with the police, you will be invited to have a conversation with them so that they can ask what your role was. However, if you’re considered to be a primary suspect, it’s likely that you would have been arrested.

Have you been falsely accused of possession of articles for terrorist purposes?

There are some situations where somebody is accused of possession of articles for terrorist purposes, when they have not knowingly been involved in the offence. If you feel that this has happened to you, a good lawyer may be able to get your case dropped and your name cleared.

Find out more about your case with a good lawyer

Some people who are alleged to have been involved in a possession of articles for terrorist purposes cases are not provided with much information by the police. They may not fully understand why that have been arrested or what they are meant to have in their possession.

By engaging a skilful lawyer who has experience in the arena of terrorist law, your lawyer can ask for further information and can also demand to see any evidence that the police have on you.

What many people find challenging is when law enforcement officers are given permission t investigate every area of your life. This will include access to your phone, social media accounts and email. The purpose of the search is to obtain evidence to prove that you committed a crime. This evidence will be used against you in court.

Hire a legal professional as soon as possible

Successful results in such cases require very early intervention and sometimes strategic negotiations with the prosecution to remove the charge from possession of articles for terrorist purposes. It is vital that you engage a Criminal Solicitor very early in the case. You will receive guidance on what is better for you when the police are interviewing you, you will be informed of the entire Court process and you will always feel somebody watching over you.

Can the police search my home?

The police will request a search warrant so that they can look for evidence in your home. As law enforcement officers, they will be seeking proof to secure a conviction.

Could you go to jail for possession of articles for terrorist purposes?

If your possession of articles for terrorist purposes case reaches the court and you are convicted, you will typically be punished with a prison sentence.

We defend terrorist related offence cases regularly and have deep knowledge and experience in this field. We can help you by recommending the best course of action to take to mitigate the outcome. No matter what size your case is, get in touch.

What type of sentence could you get for possession of articles for terrorist purposes?

Depending on the particulars of your specific case, you may be given a prison sentence for possession of articles for terrorist purposes.

The maximum prison sentence for this crime is 14 years. If you have already served prison time for this offence, the minimum amount you receive will be 7 years.

Read more about sentencing for Possession of Articles for Terrorist Purposes offences

What mitigating factors may be considered in sentencing?

When sentencing for possession of articles for terrorist purposes, your case will be looked at carefully. The articles that you have in your possession will be examined and our sentence will be decided.

Does a conviction for possession of articles for terrorist purposes go on your criminal record?

If your case progresses to court and you are convicted and found to be guilty, you will be given a permanent criminal record.

How can Stuart Miller Solicitors help you?

Our Criminal Solicitors have substantial experience defending individuals being investigated or prosecuted for possession of articles for terrorist purposes charges. With an aggressive attitude to Criminal Defence, we are committed to being pro-active in fighting your case, rather than re-active. We have successfully challenged the admissibility of crucial prosecution evidence and moved to make applications to dismiss Possession of articles for terrorist purposes charges altogether. We are fluent with contesting evidence obtained secretly using covert surveillance and we have very good relationships with mobile phone / cell-site analysts who can give evidence in your favour.

The prosecution’s case

In order to prove these charges against you, the prosecution do not need direct evidence showing that you have passed an article for terrorist purposes to someone else. The prosecution’s burden of proving the case is to show that you had the intention to do so. Typically, the prosecution will build its case on circumstantial evidence to show your intention. Circumstantial evidence in cases such as these would include what the article in you possession is plus any unexplained large quantities of case, incriminating text and WhatsApp messages and any previous convictions that you have.

The prosecution will argue that the culmination of all these factors proves, beyond reasonable doubt, that you are guilty of the charge, Possession of articles for terrorist purposes.

In addition, where there is evidence of significant profit from the possession of articles for terrorist purposes, the prosecution may apply to the court for a Restraint Order with the effect of freezing your assets. Our Criminal Solicitors have vast experience of defending terrorism related offences. Where a Restraint Order is made prior to the criminal charge, we can negotiate the best deal for you, including adequate amounts for daily living expenses and legal costs. Where negotiation is unsuccessful, we have the expertise to approach the Courts to obtain the most equitable result for our client.

What will happen when I instruct a terrorist offences solicitor?

It’s vital to take early action when you discover that you’re going to be part of a terrorist related offence investigation. By doing so, you can put yourself in the best possible position with regards to achieving a positive outcome.

You will feel a lot more at ease about the situation as you’ll know that we are handling it for you. We have a specialist team who are very up to date on benefits rules and regulations.

Would you like to discuss your case before instructing us?

If you’d like to have a no obligation chat with us before you instruct us to take your case, then call us today.

In addition to giving you a free consultation, we can also represent you at the police station if you’ve been arrested. We can look at securing your legal aid. If for some reason you don’t qualify for legal aid, it is important for you to know that we offer competitive prices and we don’t add charges onto you bill without discussing them first, as far as possible.

Please contact us for a face to face meeting or a telephone call. There is a WhatsApp link at the bottom of the page if that is your preference.