UK prisons to separate extremists from other inmates

Dangerous extremists will be separated from other inmates in British prisons, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced on Friday.

The MoJ said three separation centres will be created, and form part of the wider government strategy to tackle extremism in prisons, Xinhua news agency reported.

The new rules, published by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the MoJ, Sam Gyimah, will see the new separation centres holding the most subversive offenders to prevent them from influencing other prisoners.

An amendment to prison rules has been laid before Parliament on Friday so the authorities can place prisoners in the new centres if they are involved in planning terrorism, or are considered to pose a risk to national security.

"Those who are spreading views that might encourage or influence others to commit terrorism crimes, or anyone whose views are being used in a way which undermines good order and security in prisons, may also be placed in one of the centres," said an MoJ spokesman.

The first centre will be up and running at Frankland Prison in England in the coming weeks, with two further units to follow at other prison establishments.

"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."

Once in a centre, prisoners will be reviewed by experts every three months and will only be returned to the mainstream prison population if it is considered that the risk they present has reduced.

--IANS

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