27/04/2022
Cachella Smith
The most influential and dangerous terrorists will be placed in specialist units in a bid to prevent radicalisation.
There are currently three Separation Centres in the Prison Estate, with a total capacity of 28 prisoners. The first was opened in June 2017, but a review published today has found that the use of them has “never fully taken off”.
The review, conducted by Jonathan Hall, QC – the government’s Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, found that there was a “lack of unanimity” within HMPPS concerning which prisoners would be suitable for Separation Centres and whether the Centres were intended as short/medium term interventions or designed for entire sentences to be passed there.
Jonathan Hall highlighted certain issues with the current referral policy, one of which was an implication that alternative measures had to be considered before an offender was sent to a Separation Centre.
He suggested a low referral rate may have its roots in an undue focus on concerns relating to an offender’s rehabilitation as well as an excessive focus on ideology as a risk factor.
He recommended that the referral process be redesigned so that it focuses on risk, the process is more streamlined and ensures sensitive information can be passed on efficiently.
Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab today announced measures in response to the review including a £1.2 million team who will focus on identifying and targeting the “most influential and charismatic” terrorists.
He also announced £6 million investment in the expansion of “Close Supervision Centres” for the most violent offenders, including terrorists.
Dominic Raab said: “The threat from terrorism is evolving, so our response must adapt.
“We are going to take a more decisive approach in our prisons, not allowing cultural and religious sensitivities to deter us from nipping in the bud early signs of terrorist risk.
“We will isolate more of the most radical terrorists in separation centres, and our Bill of Rights will prevent terrorists using the Human Rights Act to claim a ‘right to socialise’ in prison.”
Since 2017, 32 terrorist plots have been intercepted by MI5 and Counter Terrorism Policing.
The last four completed terrorist attacks in Great Britain were carried out by prisoners either in custody or on licence.
The government has also designed a specialist training programme which has been given to 15,500 frontline prison officers to help them identify terrorist behaviour.
Jonathan Hall’s report today pointed to the drop in staffing numbers since 2010, which bounced back slightly in 2018 and is now 12 per cent down compared with 2010 figures. He said : “In the words of officials, staff went from being “confident and in charge” to “firefighting”.”
He made a number of other recommendations within the report including CT Policing establishing senior leadership with responsibility for ensuring potential offences in prison can be effectively investigated and creating specific national policies for action by governors on terrorist risk.