Her Majesty’s Inspector General of Prisons reports nine Islamist terrorists held in two special ‘segregation centers’ in British prisons to deal with deradicalization and criminal behavior I have found that I am refusing to participate in other programs designed to help me.
In April 2022, inspectors visited centers at Woodhill Gaol in Buckinghamshire and Frankland Gaol in County Durham. It houses notable prisoners, including Hashem Abedi, brother of Manchester Arena suicide bomber Salman Abedi. The bomb that killed 22 people.
The idea of a segregation center was conceived in 2017 with the idea of keeping the most dangerously radicalized terrorists from affecting the general prison population.
Charlie Taylor, the prison’s chief inspector general, said an aggressive action program aimed at deradicalizing prisoners was “too ambitious” and that most prisoners were unwilling to get involved.
he said: The Center’s task is to achieve its purpose of protecting others from harm while providing a clear course of progression for men to follow. ”
“For those who are fully engaged and show progress, carefully organizing and supervising opportunities for limited contact with mainstream prisoners and staff is a way to test whether further reintegration is possible and safe. will be,” he added.
“The prisoners refused any kind of purposeful activity.”
The report found that “nearly all prisoners refuse to work with intentional activity or offensive behavior.” That meant 22 hours a day in solitary confinement.
A prison Muslim pastor had visited the center at least three times a week, but Islamic study classes had not resumed, and at the time of the inspection, access to Friday prayers was limited due to COVID-19 restrictions. was restricted.
In April, the Independent Examiner of Terrorism Law said: Jonathan Halla convicted Islamic extremist seeking to dictate the eating and washing habits of non-Muslim prisoners, successfully barred prison guards from Friday prayer sessions.
Attorney General and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab responded by announcing plans for a £6 million ($7.27 million) expansion of the segregation center to include a third unit at Full Sutton Prison in North Yorkshire.
“We intend to take a more decisive approach with prisons and not let cultural and religious sensitivities deter them from nipping the terrorist risk in the bud,” Raab said.
Usman Khan, who was released from prison after serving time for terrorism crimes, in November 2019, attended two volunteers from the Prisoner Rehabilitation Charity at an event at Fishmongers Hall in central London before being shot dead by police. killed the Just a month later he was shot dead by police in Streatham, south London, after another recently released terrorist, Sudesh Amman, stabbed a shopper.
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Chris Summers is a UK-based journalist with a wide range of national coverage, with a particular interest in crime, police and law.