Proscription briefing

Police Scotland’s approach to the policing of protests was raised by Members at a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority, on 21 August 2025. This briefing fulfils a request for further information explaining how organisations are proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000.

What is a Proscribed Organisation?

Under the Terrorism Act 2000, the Home Secretary may proscribe an organisation if they believe it is concerned in terrorism, and it is proportionate to do so. For the purposes of the Act, this means that the organisation:

• commits or participates in acts of terrorism
• prepares for terrorism
• promotes or encourages terrorism (including the unlawful glorification of terrorism)
• is otherwise concerned in terrorism.

There are currently 84 terrorist organisations proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000 and 14 further organisations in Northern Ireland that were proscribed under previous legislation (all listed in Schedule 2 of the Terrorism Act 2000). Section 3(3)(a) allows the Home Secretary to add organisations to Schedule 2 by order (a form of secondary legislation).

What is ‘Terrorism’ in the proscription context?

“Terrorism” as defined in the act, means the use or threat of action which:

• involves serious violence against a person
• involves serious damage to property
• endangers a person’s life (other than that of the person committing the act)
• creates a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or section of the public, or
• is designed to seriously interfere with or seriously disrupt an electronic system.

The use or threat of such action must be designed to influence the government or an international governmental organisation or to intimidate the public or a section of the public and must be undertaken for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.

What determines whether proscription is proportionate?

If there is evidence that the organisation is concerned in terrorism, the Home Secretary will consider whether to exercise their discretion to proscribe the organisation. In considering whether to exercise this discretion, the Home Secretary will take into account other factors, including:

• the nature and scale of an organisation’s activities
• the specific threat that it poses to the UK
• the specific threat that it poses to British nationals overseas
• the extent of the organisation’s presence in the UK, and/or
• the need to support other members of the international community in the global fight against terrorism.

When coming to a decision the Home Office may first consult with the “Proscription Review Group” (PRG) about proposals to amend Schedule 2.

The PRG comprises a range of subject matter experts from across Government, including policy officials, law enforcement and the Security Service.

Recent developments

On 1 July 2025, the Home Secretary announced the intention to proscribe Palestine Action, the Maniacs Murder Cult and the Russian Imperial Movement. 

On 4 July 2025, the Home Secretary made the Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) Amendment Order 2025. The Order added these three organisations to Schedule 2.

A draft of the Order was approved by the House of Commons and House of Lords, as required by section 123(4)(a) of the Act.