Criminals who tip off terrorists face harsher sentences

CRIMINALS WHO tip off terrorists about investigations could have their sentences made more severe under a new widening of the regime for challenging soft punishments.

Suspects who flout strict anti-terror orders could also see their penalties queried and increased for the first time from next month. The Government announced that nine terror-related offences will be added to the programme which allows the public to challenge sentences handed out by the courts.

Under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme, anyone can ask the Attorney General to examine sentences they believe to be too light.

Cases are reviewed and can be sent to the Court of Appeal, which will then determine whether the sentence should stay the same, or be increased.

The latest extension follows the addition of 19 terror-related offences to the scheme in July.

Under the new plans, which will take effect on January 29, sentences handed out for tipping off a suspect terrorist that he was under investigation could be challenged.

Punishments given in cases where someone learns of terrorist activity through their trade, profession or employment but fails to report the information to police could also be re-examined.

The scheme will also be widened to include breaches of antiterror orders imposed to restrict the activities and movements of suspects.

The nine newly added offences include failure to comply with a terrorism prevention and investigation measure (TPIM) and contravening a temporary exclusion order (TEO).

TPIMs are used in cases where someone who is deemed to pose a threat to security cannot be prosecuted or, in the case of foreign nationals, deported.

Subjects can be relocated, made to wear an electronic monitoring tag and have limits placed on their use of computers and phones. TEOs were created to disrupt and control the return of UK citizens suspected of engaging in terrorist-related activity abroad.