The number of terrorism-related arrests in the UK has surged to its highest level since 2019, with 248 arrests recorded in 2024, according to new data from the Home Office.
This sharp rise reflects an increase in counter-terrorism operations as authorities work to combat both domestic and international security threats.
Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) has been operating at an intense pace over the past 18 months, leading to the disruption of three late-stage attack plots last year.
Alongside MI5, these agencies have now prevented a total of 43 attacks since March 2017.
The rise in arrests is linked to global instability and growing national security concerns, including state threats from Russia, China, and Iran.
More than 20% of ongoing CTP investigations now involve countering hostile state activities.
Despite the overall increase in arrests, cases involving individuals under 18 saw a slight decline from 43 in 2023 to 39 in 2024.
However, law enforcement remains concerned about the involvement of young people in terrorism-related activities, ranging from online extremism to suspected attack planning.
For over five years, authorities have warned of the growing number of minors linked to terrorism cases, stressing the need for a collaborative approach to prevent radicalisation.
Public vigilance continues to play a key role in counter-terrorism efforts, with nearly 22,000 reports submitted to the Anti-Terrorist Hotline and government website last year.
One in five of these reports was considered significant enough to be investigated further, highlighting the importance of public awareness in national security.
