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Collecting or possessing information useful for terrorism

s.58Terrorism Act 2000

Collecting, recording, possessing, or viewing online, information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, without a reasonable excuse.

Collecting or possessing information useful for terrorism · Terrorism Act 2000, s.58Card 169 / 195

Points to prove

s.58(1)(a)Collected or made a record of information, or
s.58(1)(b)Possessed a document or record containing information, or
s.58(1)(c)Viewed or otherwise accessed, by means of the internet, a document or record containing information
Of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism

Key definitions

Terrorism – s.1: the use or threat of serious violence, serious damage to property, endangering life, creating a serious risk to public health or safety, or seriously disrupting an electronic system, designed to influence the government or intimidate the public and made for a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.
Record – s.58(2): includes a photographic or electronic record. Collecting includes downloading from the internet (s.58(1A)).
Likely to be useful – the information must be of a kind likely to give practical assistance to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, such as bomb-making instructions, not just information of general use. The defendant must know they have the document or record and know the general nature of what it contains. No terrorist purpose needs to be proved (R v G and J 2009, House of Lords).

Defences

Reasonable excuse – s.58(3). It includes (s.58(3A)) where the defendant did not know, and had no reason to believe, that the material contained such information, or where the action was for work as a journalist or for academic research.
The defendant only needs to raise the defence. The prosecution must then disprove it beyond reasonable doubt (s.118).

Good to know

s.58(1)(c) was added by the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 (from 12 April 2019), which also raised the maximum from 10 to 15 years.
Consent: proceedings need the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and of the Attorney General where the offence is committed abroad or connected with the affairs of another country (s.117).
Related offences: s.57 (possessing an article for a terrorist purpose) and s.58A (eliciting or publishing information about members of the armed forces, police or intelligence services).

Legislation: Terrorism Act 2000, s.58 (opens legislation.gov.uk in a new tab)
Mode of trial: Either way
Maximum penalty: 15 years' imprisonment and/or a fine (on indictment); 12 months' imprisonment and/or a fine (summarily)
Last checked: 2 November 2026, against the current law on legislation.gov.uk

Collecting or possessing information useful for terrorism: questions people ask

What are the points to prove for collecting or possessing information useful for terrorism?

1. Collected or made a record of information, or 2. Possessed a document or record containing information, or 3. Viewed or otherwise accessed, by means of the internet, a document or record containing information 4. Of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism

What is the maximum sentence for collecting or possessing information useful for terrorism?

15 years' imprisonment and/or a fine (on indictment); 12 months' imprisonment and/or a fine (summarily)

Is collecting or possessing information useful for terrorism a summary, either-way or indictable offence?

Collecting or possessing information useful for terrorism is an either-way offence: it can be tried in the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court.

What Act and section is collecting or possessing information useful for terrorism?

Collecting or possessing information useful for terrorism is an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000, s.58.

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