UK Police recorded the highest number of terrorism-related arrests since 2019 last year, an increase of 11 percent over the previous year. Official statistics revealed there were 248 terror-related detentions in all during 2024, 25 more than in the last 12 months.

British counter-terrorism police expressed the latest growth reflected rising threats to the UK from ‘state threats’ posed by governments such as Russia, China, and Iran. Last year’s anti-terrorism detentions led to 84 people being charged either with terrorism or another class of offense, down from 109 the previous year. 

Senior national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism policing, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, stated:

“The ripples of global uncertainty continue to be felt domestically and that is reflected in number of arrests our officers made last year. We have also been clear that our demand has increased when it comes to investigating and disrupting national security related cases – those linked to state threats.”

During the month of October last year, Sir Ken McCallum, director general of the Security Service, MI5, cautioned there had been 20 ‘potentially lethal’ Iran-backed plots in the UK over the previous two years. MI5 probes into state threats leaped by percent last year, he also said. A counter-terrorism policing spokesman stated more than a fifth of its casework now concentrates on protecting the UK against state threats.

DAC Evans also said:

“For the last 18 months, counter-terrorism policing has been operating at a very high operational tempo and it is no surprise to see our teams arrested well over 200 people last year. ‘Within those arrests are three late-stage attacks that were disrupted thanks to the actions of our officers and our partners in the security service. Day in and day out, our officers and staff are working with partners to help keep the public safe and today’s figures demonstrate the scale of work we’re undertaking.”

Remarkably, there was a slight decline in the number of children being arrested under counter-terrorism forces, after a wave over the previous four years. In 2024 there were 39 under-18s were kept by police using anti-terror powers. It was less than four on the previous 12 months but still the second-highest annual tally since records started in 2002. Of those apprehended, three were arrested compared to 16 the previous year.

DAC Evans said:

“While the data shows a slight dip in arrests of young people, our teams still arrested a concerning number of young people last year.”

The crimes of those who were arrested range from doubt of possessing a firearm, to those who have allegedly transferred terrorist material online, and to those who were supposed to be preparing acts of terrorism.

“For over five years now counter-terrorism policing has been warning about the number of children and young people in our casework and investigations. And while this trend cannot be reversed by law enforcement alone, we must continue to work with our partners to stop young people, no matter their age, from causing harm to the public.”