Under which power are fingerprints and DNA taken from a person examined under Schedule 7?

Under Schedule 8 para 10 TA 2000, from a person detained under Schedule 7 — not under Schedule 7 itself.

Counter-Terrorism Awareness

ACT reporting, hostile reconnaissance signs, JTAC/MI5 threat levels, marauding attack response (Run Hide Tell / Locate Contain Evacuate), the HOT protocol for suspicious packages, the Prevent duty and Channel programme, and Schedule 7 port powers — an officer quick-reference.

Unofficial independent resource — always verify with official sources (College of Policing, your force, PFEW).

Reviewed by the BlueLineHub Editorial Team

Last reviewed: 26 August 2026 · Next review due: 26 February 2027

Reviewed by BlueLineHub Editorial

What is the operational and legal framework for counter-terrorism awareness, from reporting hostile reconnaissance to Schedule 7 port powers?

Report suspicious activity via the Anti-Terrorism Hotline (0800 789 321, gov.uk/ACT) — signs of hostile reconnaissance include photographing security measures, testing response times, sketching layouts, repeated visits with no purpose, and cover stories that don't check out. The current JTAC/MI5 threat levels are LOW (an attack is highly unlikely), MODERATE (an attack is possible, but not likely), SUBSTANTIAL (an attack is likely), SEVERE (an attack is highly likely), and CRITICAL (an attack is highly likely in the near future). Public advice in a marauding attack is Run Hide Tell; the police response is Locate, Contain, Evacuate. A suspicious package is assessed with the HOT protocol (Hidden / Obviously suspicious / Typical) — don't touch, evacuate, cordon 100m+, call control.

The Prevent duty (Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 s.26) is a statutory duty on 'specified authorities' listed in Schedule 6 — for policing, the chief officer of police and the police and crime commissioner (also MOPAC, British Transport Police, and the Civil Nuclear Police Authority) — to have due regard to preventing people being drawn into terrorism; it is not a direct duty on individual constables, but cascades to officers through force policy and training. The Channel programme (s.36) is the multi-agency panel that assesses and supports people identified as vulnerable to radicalisation. Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 lets an examining officer stop and question anyone at a port, airport, or international rail station without reasonable suspicion; an examination can last up to 6 hours, but questioning beyond the first hour requires the person to be detained (Sch 7 para 6A). Fingerprints and non-intimate DNA samples from a person detained under Schedule 7 are taken under Schedule 8 para 10 TA 2000, not Schedule 7 itself. The National Security Act 2023 introduced a separate state-threats regime but did not change the Prevent duty or Schedule 7 port powers.

All operational references

A reference to counter-terrorism awareness: the ACT reporting route, signs of hostile reconnaissance, the current JTAC/MI5 threat levels, the public and police response to a marauding attack, the HOT protocol for a suspicious package, the Prevent duty and Channel programme, and Schedule 7 port powers. It is educational reference, not tactical guidance — follow your force's CT policy, training and current law.

Hostile Reconnaissance Signs

Behaviour that may indicate planning for an attack.

Photographing or filming security measures
Testing response times
Making sketches or notes of layouts
Multiple visits with no apparent purpose
Using cover stories that don't check out
Showing interest in security personnel
Timing of routine activities

Threat Levels (JTAC / MI5)

Set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) and MI5. Current level published on the MI5 website.

Level	Meaning
LOW	An attack is highly unlikely.
MODERATE	An attack is possible, but not likely.
SUBSTANTIAL	An attack is likely.
SEVERE	An attack is highly likely.
CRITICAL	An attack is highly likely in the near future.

Marauding Attack Response — Public advice: Run Hide Tell

RUN

Escape if possible.

HIDE

Find cover, silence phone.

TELL

Call 999.

Marauding Attack Response — Police response: Locate, Contain, Evacuate

LOCATE

Find the threat.

CONTAIN

Secure the area.

EVACUATE

Remove casualties.

Suspicious Packages — HOT Protocol

If the answer is YES to any of these, don't touch it.

HHidden: Has it been hidden?
OObviously suspicious: Is it obviously suspicious?
TTypical: Is it typical for this location?

Prevent Duty

The Prevent duty (Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 s.26) is a statutory duty on ‘specified authorities’ to have due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism — it is not a direct duty on individual constables.

The specified authorities for policing, listed in Schedule 6 CTSA 2015, are the chief officer of police, the police and crime commissioner (and, in London, the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime), the British Transport Police, and the Civil Nuclear Police Authority. The duty cascades to individual officers operationally through force policy and training, not through s.26 itself.

Signs of Radicalisation

Expressing extremist views
Accessing extremist material online
Changes in behaviour or appearance
Isolation from family and friends

Schedule 7 Powers — Terrorism Act 2000

Ports, airports, and international rail.

Aspect	Detail
Power	An examining officer — a constable, or a designated immigration or customs officer — may stop and question any person at a port, airport, or international rail station to determine whether they appear to be someone concerned in the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism. Schedule 7 also allows examination of the person's property and goods.
No reasonable suspicion required	Unlike most police powers, Schedule 7 does not require reasonable suspicion (para 2(4)). The power exists to allow screening at border controls.
Time limits & scope	An examination may last up to 6 hours in total. Questioning beyond the first hour requires the person to be detained (Sch 7 para 6A, inserted by the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014). Fingerprints and non-intimate DNA samples from a person detained under Schedule 7 are taken under Schedule 8 para 10 TA 2000 — not under Schedule 7 itself. A constable may act as an examining officer without separate designation; immigration and customs officers must be designated by the Secretary of State. All examining officers must be accredited and trained under the Schedule 7 Code of Practice.

Frequently asked

Who does the Prevent duty under CTSA 2015 s.26 actually bind?: It binds the 'specified authorities' listed in Schedule 6 CTSA 2015 — for policing, the chief officer of police and the police and crime commissioner (also MOPAC, British Transport Police, and the Civil Nuclear Police Authority) — not individual constables directly. It cascades to officers operationally through force policy and training.
Can Schedule 7 be used without reasonable suspicion, and for how long?: Yes — Schedule 7 TA 2000 does not require reasonable suspicion (para 2(4)). An examination may last up to 6 hours, but questioning beyond the first hour requires the person to be detained under Sch 7 para 6A (inserted by the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014).
Under which power are fingerprints and DNA taken from a person examined under Schedule 7?: Under Schedule 8 para 10 TA 2000, from a person detained under Schedule 7 — not under Schedule 7 itself.