British jihadists who travel to Syria and Iraq to fight with ISIS will face ten years in jail

British jihadists who travel to Syria and Iraq to fight with Islamic State will face ten years in prison on their return home.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid is introducing measures to make it illegal to travel to terror hotspots without good excuse.

Mr Javid acted after the Mail revealed that only 40 out of 400 British jihadis who fought with so-called Islamic State have been prosecuted.

At least 360 fanatics have been allowed to go free as there was too little evidence to convict them.

Now the Home Secretary is set to follow Australia’s example and make it an offence for UK citizens to travel to a ‘designated area’ overseas.

It would mean the only evidence needed to prosecute so-called ‘foreign fighters’ would be that they had entered a place listed by the Government as off-limits.

Mr Javid said: ‘Those who travel abroad to fight in terrorist conflicts pose a threat to us all and need to be stopped. This offence will help make our streets a safer place.’

He has tabled an amendment to the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill which was unveiled in June and is going through Parliament.

Independent MP John Woodcock, a member of the Commons home affairs committee, said: ‘It is great news that ministers have listened and will bring in a tough new approach for people who are returning from terror warzones but who cannot currently be prosecuted.

Source: Daily Mail