Release ‘should be supervised by someone unconnected to police’

Terrorist offenders’ release from prison under licence in Northern Ireland should be supervised by someone unconnected to police, the terrorism laws reviewer said.

The new law passing through Westminster increases the length of time spent subject to official monitoring.

Following credible threats from dissident republicans, in 2017 the Probation Service of Northern Ireland stopped directly supervising the licences of convicted terrorists, independent reviewer Jonathan Hall QC said.

He warned: “Inevitably the focus of licence supervision may be towards enforcement or disruption rather than rehabilitation. Offenders are likely to perceive the role of the police differently from the role of probation staff when it comes to discussing their offending motivation.

“The proposed increase to the length of licences in Northern Ireland takes place against this background, and if anything increases the need for a non-police element to parole supervision.”

The supervision of former prisoners is principally undertaken by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

The government’s proposals aim to strengthen the law which governs the sentencing, release and monitoring of terrorism offenders.

Mr Hall said: “The blurred edge between what is terrorism and paramilitary activity or organised crime is a particular feature of the security situation in Northern Ireland.”

He added: “Terrorist offenders will include not only long-standing members of terrorist organisations but drug users whose addictions may lead them to being coerced into support roles for terrorist organisations.”