Membership of a Proscribed Organisation (Section 11 Terrorism Act 2000)

Membership of a Proscribed Organisation is an offence under s.11 Terrorism Act 2000. A person commits the offence if he belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organisation (s.11(1)). It is a defence to prove that the organisation was not proscribed on the last (or only) occasion on which he became a member or began to profess to be a member, and that he has not taken part in the activities of the organisation at any time while it was proscribed (s.11(2)). Maximum sentence: on conviction on indictment, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years, a fine or both; on summary conviction, imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both (s.11(3)).

In practice

This is an either-way offence: it may be tried at the magistrates' court or the Crown Court. Detention is governed by Schedule 8 Terrorism Act 2000, not standard PACE provisions.A review officer must periodically review detention: an officer of at least the rank of inspector for a review within 24 hours of arrest, and of at least the rank of superintendent for any later review (Schedule 8, para 24).