Legal News

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced that extremists in jail will be held in specialist units separate from other inmates.

There will also be a clamp down on extremist literature in prisons – and prison chaplains will be more carefully vetted in a crack down on the spread of extremist views among vulnerable prisoners who may be radicalised.

The announcement follows publication of a landmark review on Monday (22/08/16), looking into the risks posed by Islamist extremists in prisons.

Prison officers on the front line will be equipped to crack down on extremist behaviour – and will be supported by a new directorate for Security, Order and Counter-Terrorism, responsible for monitoring and dealing with the evolving threat of extremism in UK jails.

Governors have also been instructed to ban extremist literature – and to remove individuals from Friday prayers if they are promoting anti-British beliefs or other dangerous views.

The creation of specialist units is one of the recommendations in the review, ordered by the government in September 2015, when the then Secretary of State for Justice commissioned a small review team, led by Ian Acheson.

The team made more than 60 prison visits in the UK and overseas – and interviewed more than 300 prison staff and policymakers in the MoJ and the National Offender Management Service (NOMS).

Secretary of State for Justice, Elizabeth Truss, said:

“Islamist extremism is a danger to society and a threat to public safety – it must be defeated wherever it is found. I am committed to confronting and countering the spread of this poisonous ideology behind bars.

“Preventing the most dangerous extremists from radicalising other prisoners is essential to the safe running of our prisons and fundamental to public protection.

“Lack of confidence in challenging unacceptable extremist behaviour and views was highlighted as a key concern across the prison estate, resulting in reluctance to confront extremist views.”

The new directorate for Security, Order and Counter-Terrorism will deliver a plan for countering extremism in prisons and probation services.

Plans for rapid responses by intervention teams to terrorist-related incidents
will be boosted – and extremism prevention training for all prison officers will be improved.

Duncan Lewis Terrorism Solicitors

Duncan Lewis terrorism solicitors can advise at any stage of a charge involving allegations of terrorism, including belonging to a proscribed organisation, preparing for acts of terrorism, carrying out acts of terrorism, encouraging others to prepare or carry acts of terrorism, fundraising for terrorism, or hate crimes.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide – and Duncan Lewis can also advise on prisoners’ rights in jail, including human rights breaches.

For expert legal advice on terrorism charges, call Duncan Lewis terrorism solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis Solicitors 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607.