Anti-terror arrests hit record high in UK

Terror-related arrests in Britain hit record high levels last year with an arrest almost every day, Scotland Yard's top counter-terrorism officer said on Thursday.

Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Mark Rowley said that 338 suspects were detained in 2014-15 and of those 11 <g data-gr-id="39">per <g data-gr-id="38">cent</g></g> were female and 17 <g data-gr-id="40">per cent</g> were under 20 years of age.

"We are talking about an arrest a day. That is extraordinary," Rowley said.

"The make-up of terrorism is changing. We would not have seen that five or 10 years ago. It is a replication of gang crime. Young people who were getting drawn into gang crime, particularly those with troubled histories, are now turning to this," he said.

The latest arrest figure marks a 33 per cent increase on the 254 recorded for the 12 months ending in April 2014.

More than half of the arrests were related to Syria?and Islamic State (IS) and 114 of those arrested are awaiting trial.The Met police second-in-command also revealed that more than 700 British nationals of "significant concern" have travelled to Syria for feared IS terror-related activities.

"They are not aid workers or visiting <g data-gr-id="41">relatives ?</g> they are people of real concern that they are getting involved in fighting or are supportive of it. They are potential terrorist suspects," he said.

Asked about the number who have returned to the UK, he said: "It is a fairly even balance between those still out there and those who have come back." 

He also expressed the police force's concern over extremists present on British soil.

"We still have some of the more complex, organised and directed plots to tackle. And we have individuals inspired by the rhetoric and ideology who either on their own or in small groups are thinking of acting and can be chaotic and volatile in their behaviour." 

"Their plans and ambitions change on an almost daily basis? part of the challenge for us. Counter-terrorism officers in London are working flat out," Rowley said.