Convicted terrorists are not being prosecuted for radicalising fellow inmates and extremism is being “encouraged” behind bars, the terrorism watchdog has warned.
Jonathan Hall, QC, said that there was an “increasing drumbeat of links” between prison and terrorist attacks, with offenders not being properly punished for owning radical material, preaching extremism and inciting violence.
Mr Hall, the government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, will today announce an inquiry into whether prisons are dealing properly with terrorist offenders.
He told The Times: “There has been a steady drumbeat over recent years of terrorist attacks against prison officers, and an increasing number of individuals who may well have formed their terrorist intent in prison under the influence of high-status terrorist prisoners. If terrorism exists [in prison]
