The Bill contains a number of provisions which the Government states are designed to enhance counter-terrorism powers. The main elements of the Bill are:
a provision to allow the pre-charge detention of terrorist suspects to be extended from 28 days to 42 days in certain circumstances
changes to enable the post-charge questioning of terrorist suspects and the drawing of adverse inferences from silence
imposing requirements on people convicted of terrorist offences to let authorities know where they are living and any changes to their circumstances
enhanced sentencing of offenders who commit offences with a terrorist connection
provision for inquests and inquiries to be heard without a jury.
The Bill would also confer further powers to gather and share information for counter-terrorism and other purposes, and amend the law relating to asset-freezing procedures.