MPS WANT ANSWERS AMID BEGUM ROW

MPS have urged security chiefs to reveal how many jihadis have returned to Britain – and how many have dodged justice.

The call came amid the row over a bid by pregnant jihadi bride Shamima Begum, 19, to return from Syria and have her baby on the NHS.

Refused

Security Minister Ben Wallace said last year 450 have come back and 40 faced prosecution.

Officials have refused to confirm basic details about action taken against them. The Home Office would also not comment on what has happened to those who did not face charges.

We made a Freedom of Information bid but the Met Police, which compiled the list for Mr Wallace, refused to give information. The force said: “We do not comment on specific operational matters in order to protect our national security.”

Last night, independent MP John Woodcock said: “If people have been prosecuted it stands to reason the public should be able to know about it. We need to look at the exact language used. The 40 figure, were they charges or successful prosecutions?

“I am concerned not everyone who returned has even been arrested because I have heard talk of arrests

‘ where necessary’. I welcome the push for transparency and this week will table more questions for clarity on the number of arrests and successful prosecutions.”

Philip Hollobone, Tory MP for Kettering, has raised the issue of returning fighters in the Commons at least four times.

He said: “The public are outraged so many are being allowed to return without prosecution. Not only must justice be done, justice must be seen to be done.

“Surely it must be of huge concern that, according to our own Government, hundreds of these potentially battle- hardened ex-fighters are at large.”

Michael Offord, Tory MP for Hendon, submitted a written Parliamentary question asking for details of all prosecutions of returned jihadis so far. It has also emerged new powers to deal with people returning from terror hotspots have been used in only a fraction of the cases.

Evidence

Conviction rates in terror offences alleged abroad can be low due to a “lack of evidence”.

But tougher laws will soon criminalise travel to terror zones “without good reason”.

Asked for the total number of returning jihadis who have been successfully prosecuted, the CPS referred us to the Met. The Home Office and Mr Wallace failed to respond. respond Meanwhile Meanwhile, Islamic State’s last enc enclave in Syria reportedly fell fel yesterday.

It came as the terror group claimed responsibility for an a attack in Nor North Si nai,

Eg Egypt.