NCJ Number
208776
Journal
Journal of Financial Crime Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: December 2004 Pages: 104-111
Date Published
December 2004
Length
8 pages
Annotation
In tracing the history of the United Kingdom's experience of and response to terrorism, beginning in the 19th century, this paper focuses on types of legislation, particularly that which bears upon efforts to interdict and confiscate terrorists' financial resources.
Abstract
The actions of the Fenians in the early to mid-19th century in seeking an independent and united Ireland produced several British legislative provisions that formed special police or security forces and delineated tactics designed to increase the effectiveness of these police in dealing with terrorists. Mistakes were subsequently made in applying these tactics to any activist reform groups that sought significant change in British society. This experience teaches that terrorists must be clearly defined in any special legislation intended to target them. Anti-terrorist legislation of the 1970's onwards initially focused on the activities of terrorists and increased sanctions for distinctively terrorist acts. A second tier of response has involved the interdiction of the finances of sophisticated and organized terrorist groups. The confiscation or forfeiture of resources used to fund terrorist organizations and activities has been incorporated in counter-terrorism legislation, along with measures to combat money laundering. British legislation has also focused on enhancing Great Britain's involvement in international efforts against terrorism. Part of this international effort is the waging of an "information war" that will help mold global attitudes across cultures to ensure that terrorists are viewed as violent opponents of democratic systems and any ideologies that differ from their own. The information war against the fascism that spawned World War II is cited as an example of the importance of information campaigns. 48 references