Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, has devised plans that would mean children arrested for lower-level terror offences could be dealt with using child-specific orders as an alternative to existing law.
Under the plans, offenders could either be prosecuted, and face imprisonment, or accept behavioural conditions, such as limitations on access to certain devices or online material.
The proposals follow growing concerns about children being radicalised by extremists (see box). Home Office data shows there was a three per cent increase in under-18s arrested for counter terrorism last year.
Hall, a Kings Counsel since 2014, was appointed as independent reviewer by the Home Secretary in 2019 and was reappointed in 2022 for a three-year term.
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