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Telegraph
a day ago
- General
- Telegraph
Dangerous Islamist terrorists should be imprisoned on military base, says report
Dangerous Islamist terrorists should be detained in a specially created high-security unit within a military base, a report by one of Britain's leading experts on extremism has recommended. Prof Ian Acheson, a former prison governor who has advised the Government on extremism in prisons, has recommended that the risk to prison officers from violent ideologically driven terrorists was so 'lethal and proximate' that a new centre outside the prison estate was needed. He said such a centre could not be located in high-security prisons because they were 'exposed to and unable to overcome' the threat from weapons and other contraband being brought in by drones. 'My recommendation is that this centre is purpose-built and located inside the military estate, where physical and human security is commensurate to the risks posed,' he said in his report, commissioned by the Tories. 'It should be entirely separate from the main prison estate and its ethos must be focused on the protection of national security and eliminating the physical threat to staff.' Series of attacks on prison staff His proposal follows an attack by Hashem Abedi, the Manchester Arena bomb plotter, on three officers in the high-security Frankland jail in County Durham last month. Abedi, who is serving a life sentence, threw hot cooking oil over the officers and stabbed them with two makeshift knives he had fashioned from baking trays in the kitchen. It also comes days after a prison officer at HMP Long Lartin was seriously injured when he was stabbed in an unprovoked attack by a violent inmate with a knife believed to have been flown into the high-security jail by drone. The most influential and dangerous Islamist terrorists are currently held in separation units, of which there are three in prisons in England and Wales. The 'prisons within prisons' are designed to prevent them from radicalising other inmates and allow for closer supervision. Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, has ordered a review of separation centres, which could see them expanded, and has also suspended prisoners' use of kitchen facilities within them after the Abedi attack. Ms Mahmood has commissioned a review into issuing prison officers with stab vests and trialling Tasers in jails. Threat from violent extremists 'intolerable' In his report, seen by The Telegraph, Prof Acheson said: 'The current threat to front line prison staff posed by violent extremists and extremist adjacent offenders is intolerable and must be tackled urgently. 'The proximity of a murder of a prison officer on duty is closer and the consequence for rehabilitation, stability and the rule of law inside prisons is closer and more severe than at any time in the last 10 years. 'HM Prison and Probation Service does not have the capacity or capability or frequently the will to manage highly violent and ideologically motivated offenders using present approaches or structures.' Prof Acheson said each prison holding terrorist prisoners should have a team of specialist armed officers on site ready to respond to any incident. 'They must be capable of being deployed at all times when prisoners are unlocked. This includes Taser, stun grenades, attenuated energy baton rounds and 'method of entry' equipment to breach doors and barricades,' he said. He said these weapons were the 'baseline' but that 'serious consideration' must be given to constructing armouries at such prisons where guns could be stored and used as a last resort because police support could not be guaranteed in time 'where seconds can mean the difference between life and death'. He said all prison officers should be issued with stab, slash and spike-resistant vests. 'There must be no delay in emergency procurement of this PPE to all staff working in the high security and long-term [prisoner] estate,' he said. 'The prospect of serious harm, not to mention litigation and recruitment/retention impact is not just imminent, it is already happening. There is simply no reason for further dithering on this vital and obvious improvement. 'Ministers must take personal charge of this objective backed by independent oversight by professionals who have demonstrated a track record in delivery under pressure. Stab vests have been 'under consideration' for officers revealed in a ministerial answer in 2013. The Director of Public Sector Prisons then is the same person who is now the interim chief executive.'
Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Arm prison guards to crack down on Islamist inmates, say Tories
Specialist prison officers should have access to firearms in jails to combat the rising threat from Islamist gangs and violent criminals, Robert Jenrick has said. The shadow justice secretary has proposed that secure armouries to hold lethal weapons should be introduced at high-security prisons, claiming: 'Islamist gangs and violent prisoners in our jails are out of control.' His proposed moves, which mirror similar measures in US jails, would also involve specialist teams of officers in category A prisons being armed with Tasers, stun grenades and baton rounds. This should be accompanied by the immediate provision of high-collar stab vests to front-line officers, said Mr Jenrick. The shadow justice secretary said the proposals were recommended in a rapid review he commissioned from Prof Ian Acheson, a former prison governor who advised the previous Conservative government on extremism in jails. On Friday, a prison officer at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire was seriously injured when he was stabbed by a violent inmate with a knife that was believed to have been flown into the high-security jail by a drone. Last month, Hashem Abedi, the Manchester Arena bomber, who is serving life for 22 murders, attacked three officers in a separation unit at the high security Frankland jail, in County Durham. The Islamist fanatic threw hot cooking oil over them and stabbed them with two makeshift knives he had fashioned from baking trays in the kitchen. Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, has ordered a review into whether to issue front-line officers with stab vests, as well as a trial of Tasers, and the suspension of prisoners' use of kitchens in separation units used to segregate Islamist terrorists. However, Mr Jenrick accused ministers of dithering in the face of a national security emergency. The Prison Officers' Association (POA) has said it is only a matter of time before an officer is murdered, while the prison watchdog has warned drone drops are so endemic, they will be used to deliver guns and explosives. Mr Jenrick said: ' Islamist gangs and violent prisoners in our jails are out of control. It's a national security emergency, but the Government is dithering. If they don't act soon, there is a very real risk that a prison officer is kidnapped or murdered in the line of duty, or that a terrorist attack is directed from inside prison. 'I commissioned Ian Acheson, a highly respected former governor, to conduct a rapid review to come up with the answers the Government should adopt right away. We have to stop pussy-footing around Islamist extremists and violent offenders in jails. 'That means arming specialist prison officer teams with Tasers and stun grenades, as well as giving them access to lethal weapons in exceptional circumstances. 'If prison governors can't easily keep terrorist influencers and radicalising inmates apart from the mainstream prisoners they target, then we don't control our prisons – they do. We must take back control and restore order by giving officers the powers and protection they need.' Separation centres too small to cope Mr Jenrick said the Government should also expand the current three separation centres, of which only two are currently operational. These 'prisons within prisons' can house up to 28 Islamist and other terrorists to prevent them from radicalising other inmates, and to allow closer supervision. However, there are 257 prisoners now in custody for terrorist offences, of which Islamists account for two-thirds and neo-fascists 27 per cent. A number of Government reports have warned of Islamist gangs running prison wings and radicalising other inmates. Mr Jenrick said the Government should reintroduce solitary confinement for gang leaders and remove access to kitchens and appliances such as kettles, until prison wings are back under control. Earlier this month, Axel Rudakubana, the Southport killer, allegedly threw boiling water from his kettle over an officer at HMP Belmarsh. Mr Jenrick proposed that all radical Islamist imams working in prisons should be removed and counter-terror security clearance should be retrospectively applied to all pastoral officers. He also demanded compulsory quarterly releases of data on religious conversions in prison, and faith-related incidents. He also said the Tories would legislate to overturn a court ruling that requires prisons to take account of any representations by a prisoner placed in a separation centre. And he proposed a law change to prevent terrorists claiming compensation under human rights law, and delaying their segregation. Prof Acheson said: 'The threat to officer safety is now intolerable and must be met decisively by the Government. The balance inside too many of our prisons has shifted away from control by the state to mere containment, and the price is soaring levels of staff assaults and wrecked rehabilitation. 'Broken officers can't help fix broken people, or protect the public from violent extremism.' Mark Fairhurst, the chairman of the Prison Officers Association, said: 'We are asking for Tasers and the use of non-lethal options. If we ever needed firearm support, we have an agreement with chief constables to provide mutual aid. 'If the Tories think we need this level of protection, we need to exhaust all other options first, including adequate protections for staff and supermax facilities.' A Ministry of Justice (MOJ) source said: 'The last government added just 500 cells to our prison estate, and left our jails in total crisis. In 14 years, they closed 1,600 cells in the high-security estate, staff assaults soared, and experienced officers left in droves. Now the arsonists are pretending to be firefighters. 'This Government is cleaning up the mess the last government left behind. We are building new prisons, with 2,400 new cells opened since we took office, and we take a zero-tolerance approach to violence and extremism inside.' MoJ sources also warned that introducing firearms to jails was likely to increase the risk to prison officers rather than decreasing it. They said Ms Mahmood had already commissioned a review into separation centres which could lead to an expansion and a tougher approach to segregating dangerous prisoners. One day, a British prison officer won't come home By Robert Jenrick Last week, I visited HMP Wandsworth to speak to officers. How was it inside the prison, I asked. 'Look at my boots,' the officer responded. They were covered in blood. It wasn't even 10am and a violent assault on his colleague had already taken place. The worst bit? He shrugged it off, because it wasn't unusual. It's only by a stroke of luck that an officer hasn't been killed. The situation in our prisons is now a national security emergency. On Friday it was reported that a prisoner had used a knife – delivered to his cell by a drone – to stab an officer at one of our top-security prisons housing terrorists and murderers. Organised crime groups have now effectively established Amazon Prime for prisoners, with drones delivering whatever weapons they want to their cell window. Guns on drones are a matter of time Hashem Abedi, the sick Manchester Arena plotter, recently used hot oil to disfigure officers – just imagine what terrorists like him could do with serious weapons. It is only a matter of time before a drone brings in a gun, ammunition and explosives that a prisoner uses to kidnap, kill or even plot a terrorist attack. The Government is dithering, hiding behind multiple 'reviews'. They refuse to give officers stab vests immediately. They won't fix glaring security flaws that enable drones until the middle of next year. After the Southport killer used a kettle to burn an officer, they withdrew it – only for him to be rewarded with access to the prison shop so he can buy sweets and chocolate. It's a disgusting insult to the victims. This appeasement must end. The Government must give the officers the capability to take back control of our prisons. They need to give highly trained officers tasers, baton rounds and, yes, access to firearms in exceptional circumstances. They must legislate to disapply the Human Rights Act so governors can place terrorists and radicalising inmates in isolation without judicial interference – and terrorists can't use lawfare to get compensation. When they move them, it must be to solitary confinement, with every single luxury taken off them. But even that won't be enough to restore order. Prison officers have always had to deal with killers including ruthless IRA murderers, and exceptionally violent organised crime gangs. They now have to contend with Islamist gangs that have taken control of some wings. Muslim converts a cause for concern Their grip is so strong prisoners have reportedly been placed in isolation to protect them from the Islamist gangs who target them. There are accounts of sharia law courts and floggings and beatings. Some prisoners convert to Islam for their own protection. Why is it, for instance, that analysis by The Telegraph shows 19.9 per cent of Muslims in UK prisons are white, nearly three times higher than the rate in the general Muslim population? The response from the Ministry of Justice has been pitiful. Prison imams have been found unable and sometimes unwilling to promote British values and take on violent fundamentalism from Muslim prisoners. It was even reported sniffer dogs have been banned from Hashem Abedi's unit after complaints it would offend the Muslim faith. Labour's prisons minister refused to even utter the word 'Islamist' after I asked a question about the threat from radicalising inmates. We have to stop pussyfooting around Islamists. Remove the radical imams. Isolate the self-appointed 'emirs'. And release quarterly statistics on religious conversions in prison and faith-based incidents so we know the truth. Our front-line prison officers are lions led by donkeys. Ministers and senior officials must act now to prevent disaster. If they don't, one day an officer won't come back to their family.
Metro
3 days ago
- Metro
High-security prison officer stabbed by inmate after 'argument'
A prison officer had to be airlifted to hospital after being stabbed by an inmate. The 25-year-old suffered serious injuries during the stabbing at around 10am on Friday at HMP Long Lartin. He is still in hospital. West Mercia Police were called and they say the suspect, a 22-year-old, is still in custody within the prison. The force has denied an audio recording circulating on social media, claiming to be of the aftermath of the incident, is in fact not connected. They have recovered a weapon as part of the investigation, and it is understood the weapon was smuggled into the prison. Assistant Chief Constable Grant Wills said: 'Whilst our investigation is in its early stages, we would like to clarify that this incident is not being treated as terrorism. 'Our initial enquiries suggest there was a disagreement between an inmate and prison officer that escalated and is an isolated matter within the prison. 'The injured prison officer currently remains in hospital in a stable condition, and we are sending him our best wishes for a full and quick recovery.' HMP Long Lartin, in South Littleton, Worcestershire, is both a category A and B prison and can hold more than 600 inmates. A Prison Service spokesperson said: 'Police are investigating an attack on a prison officer at HMP Long Lartin. 'We will not tolerate assaults on hardworking staff and will always push for the strongest punishments against perpetrators.' The news comes as the chair of the Prison Officers' Association warned it is 'only a matter of time' before a prison officer is murdered by an inmate. More Trending His warning is echoed by a former prison officer at HMP Frankland, who revealed exclusively to Metro that he had boiling urine thrown over him during his time there. New data shows the number of assaults on prison staff in England and Wales per year has reached its highest level in a decade. Recent high-profile attacks include Hashem Abedi, the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, who reporeredly injured three HMP Frankland officers by throwing hot cooking oil over them and using 'home made weapons' last month. And earlier this month, Southport killer Axel Rudakubana is accused of throwing boiling water over an officer at HMP Belmarsh. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Peru Two drug mule warns Britons of 'hellish conditions' inside prison MORE: Multiple people seriously injured after car crashes into pedestrians in Leicester MORE: Man arrested after police officer injured when 'car reversed into him'
Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Prison guard stabbed at high-security jail
A prison officer has been stabbed and seriously injured in an unprovoked attack by a prisoner at a high-security jail. The prison officer was airlifted to hospital on Friday morning after being stabbed by an inmate in HMP Long Lartin, a category A prison near Evesham, Worcestershire. He was said to be in a 'stable' condition after emergency surgery. There were unconfirmed reports that the knife used in the attack may have been delivered into the jail by a drone. Prison Service sources said this was based on the theory that it was a real knife rather than a makeshift one constructed from materials within the jail. The attack will raise further concerns over the scale of violence in jails after a series of assaults over the past two months, including a knife attack by Hashem Abedi, the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, on three officers at the high-security HMP Frankland jail in County Durham. On Thursday, The Telegraph revealed that two prison officers at the high-security HMP Whitemoor jail in Cambridgeshire were taken to hospital after two separate attacks. It followed the killing of a convicted murderer by another inmate at the same prison last month. Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, has ordered reviews into whether front-line prison officers should be equipped with stab vests to protect against knife attacks and tougher powers to segregate the most violent offenders in 'supermax-style' units. She has also ordered a trial of Tasers. 'Lucky to have survived' According to The Sun, the prison officer at Long Lartin was stabbed in his body, with a blade from a flick-knife nicking his liver. A source told the paper: 'The attack came out of the blue and was early in the morning after the prisoners were unlocked. The member of staff is lucky to have survived, particularly given where the blade struck him. 'It nicked his liver, so it could easily have been a lot worse. His colleagues raced to his aid, and luckily, police and ambulance crews got to the prison pretty quickly. 'Other members of staff are furious. They do not feel they are getting the protection they deserve, and they have been warning about drones for ages. It is a daily occurrence that they are dropping stuff off there, and it is extremely worrying that a flick-knife was delivered. If that can be dropped off, anything can. 'It is ridiculous, especially at what is meant to be a highly secure jail. Prisons are out of control – something needs to be done, and fast.' 'We will not tolerate assaults' In a statement, West Mercia Police said officers had been called to HMP Long Lartin over an assault. 'One man was taken to hospital with serious injuries after sustaining a stab wound. The inmate remains within the prison and the investigation is ongoing,' the statement said. A Prison Service spokesman said: 'We will not tolerate assaults on hard-working staff and will always push for the strongest punishments against perpetrators.' Category A Long Lartin prison houses 900 highly dangerous inmates, including killers and terrorists. Inmates there include Suffolk strangler Steve Wright; Jordan McSweeney, who murdered Zara Aleena in 2022, and Vincent Tabak, Joanna Yeates's killer. It is understood the latest attack was not by a high-profile prisoner. The latest assault comes just weeks after Abedi, who is serving life over the murder of 22 people in the Manchester Arena bomb, attacked three officers in a separation unit at HMP Frankland by throwing hot cooking oil over them and stabbing them with two makeshift knives fashioned from baking trays in the kitchen. The Prison Officers' Association has called for all terrorists and violent prisoners who assault officers to be held in US-style 'supermax' units or separate jails where they are only allowed out of their cells one hour a day, handcuffed and supervised by three officers.
The Sun
4 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Fury as sick Manchester terrorist granted £1,200 in taxpayers' cash for ‘discrimination' case after £354k legal aid bill
MANCHESTER Arena terrorist Hashem Abedi was granted more than £1,200 in taxpayers' cash to launch an equal rights case in jail. The sum went to his lawyers for a complaint of religious discrimination. 3 3 It has been added to a huge legal aid bill to fund his trial defence — even though he refused to take part in the court process. Figures disclosed under a Freedom of Information request show the total now stands at £354,015. Prison bosses also had to instruct their own lawyers before the latest wholly unjustified claim was discontinued. Tory Shadow Justice Secretary, Robert Jenrick, said: 'This is just another outrageous example of taxpayers' money being wasted on a convicted mass killer.' The claim was made before Abedi, 28, seriously wounded prison guards in a stabbing and scalding oil attack at HMP Frankland, Co Durham, last month. He was jailed in 2020 for a minimum of 55 years for helping his suicide bomber brother Salman kill 22 Ariana Grande fans in 2017. In 2022 he was given another three years and ten months for attacking two officers at Belmarsh Prison in South East London. Manchester terrorist Hashem Abedi leaves prison in van after sick knife & boiling oil attack on 3 prison officers 3
