Within these walls, within these walls...
JAILS IN JAILS TO BEAT THE SPREAD OF EXTREMISM BEHIND BARS
A JAIL within a jail to stop extremist prisoners spreading terror could be open at a North East prison within weeks.
Up to 28 extremist prisoners will be placed in separate units in a drive to tackle radicalisation behind bars.
Yesterday ministers revealed new measures allowing the most subversive and dangerous fanatics to be separated from the mainstream prison population to stop them influencing their peers.
Inmates suspected of planning terrorism or posing a risk to national security face being moved to three newly created specialist centres under an amendment to prison rules.
Those who spread views that might incite others to commit terrorist offences, or anyone whose views are being used in a way which undermines good order and security in jails, could also be shifted to one of the facilities.
The first centre will be up and running at HMP Frankland in County Durham within weeks. The prison currently houses Michael Adebolajo, who was jailed for life for the sickening murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby in 2013.
A further two units will follow at other high-security establishments.
Prisons Minister Sam Gyimah said: “Any form of extremism must be defeated wherever it is found, and it is right that we separate those who pose the greatest risk in order to limit their influence over other prisoners.
“These centres are a crucial part of our wider strategy to help tackle extremism in prisons and ensure the safety and security of both our prisons and the wider public.”
Moves to establish specialist units first gathered pace last year after a review warned that Islamist extremism is a growing problem within jails. The assessment found evidence of offenders advocating support for Islamic State and “charismatic” prisoners acting as “self-styled emirs” to radicalise other inmates. It also suggested that “cultural sensitivity” among staff towards Muslim prisoners could “inhibit the effective confrontation of extremist views”. Figures indicate authorities are managing more than 1,000 inmates who have been identified as extremist or vulnerable to extremism at any one time.
The new centres will be used to target all forms of extremism in jails, including Islamist and extreme farright ideologies.
A prisoner will be considered to be moved to one of the units if their behaviour meets one of the criteria included in the new prison rules and the level of risk they present can only be managed through separation, the Ministry of Justice said.
Once in a centre, they will be reviewed by experts every three months.