David Cameron outlines new anti-terror measures to MPs

David Cameron outlines new anti-terror measures to MPs

New powers are needed to seize terrorist suspects' passports and stop British-born extremists from returning to the UK, David Cameron has said.

It was "abhorrent" British citizens had "declared their allegiance" to groups like Islamic State, he told MPs.

He said the inability to stop UK terrorists returning home from overseas was "a gap in the armoury" but only pledged cross-party talks on the issue.

Powers to monitor suspects in the UK will also be strengthened.

In a statement to Parliament, Mr Cameron restated the UK's backing for US airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq and said he would not rule out participation in similar action in the future.

The UK's terror threat level was raised to "severe" from "substantial" on Friday.

'Forensic focus'

The prime minister told MPs that developments in the Middle East over recent months had major implications for the UK's security, with 500 British nationals estimated to have travelled to Iraq and Syria to fight on behalf of Islamic State and other militant groups.

He said the whole world had been "sickened and shocked" by the killing of US journalist James Foley and other atrocities in Iraq.

While rejecting calls for "sweeping and blanket" new laws in response, he said a "forensic focus" was needed to prevent people from travelling abroad in the first place and to deal with British jihadists returning to the UK from conflict zones.

Among measures announced:

• Legislation will be drawn up to give the police statutory powers to confiscate the passports of suspect terrorists at UK borders
• The UK will challenge any attempt by the courts to water down these powers
• Plans to block suspected British terrorists from returning to the UK will be drawn up on a "cross-party basis"
• Terrorism prevention and investigation measures (Tpims) will be extended, to include the power to relocate suspects
• Terrorists will be required to undergo de-radicalisation programmes
• Airlines will be forced to hand over more information about passengers travelling to and from conflict zones.

The home secretary already has executive powers to seize the passports of those travelling abroad in certain cases but Mr Cameron said the police needed greater discretion to act where needed.

"We will introduce specific and targeted legislation... providing the police with a temporary power to seize a passport at the border during which time they will be able to investigate the individual concerned," he said.

Mr Cameron said the UK was able to block foreign nationals and those with dual citizenship from re-entering the UK but did not have the same power for UK nationals deemed to pose a threat to the country.

Under his proposals, UK nationals suspected of being involved in terror acts would be allowed to keep their British citizenship, but they would be prevented from re-entering the UK for a period of time.

He added: "Adhering to British values is not an option or a choice. It is a duty for all those who live in these islands so we will stand up for our values, we will in the end defeat this extremism and we will secure our way of life for generations to come."