- Dangerous inmates currently dispersed across secure units in eight jails
- Michael Gove review backs putting 131 Islamist terrorists in one prison
- David Cameron hinted last week he would accept 'major changes' in jails
- Opponents worry will be a point for protest, a 'British Guantanamo Bay'
The Prime Minister is considering putting all terrorist prison inmates into a single jail which has been dubbed the British Alcatraz.
The jail, would hold all 131 Islamist inmates, convicted of terror offences, in a single secure unit to stop them infecting other prisoners with their extremist views.
The policy has been recommended by a new review into radicalisation in British prisons, and David Cameron hinted earlier this week he is 'prepared to consider major changes'.
A jail dubbed the British Alcatraz (pictured, the prison in California) could hold all 131 Islamist inmates convicted of terror offences in a single secure unit to stop them infecting other prisoners with their views
There are currently 1,000 inmates considered at risk of radicalisation in British prisons, and in the speech earlier this week, Mr Cameron said he would 'not stand by' and watch this happen.
It would reverse the current policy of dispersing dangerous inmates across six prisons, which has been in place for 50 years. This stops them creating gangs and power structures within the jail.
The prison could hold notorious terrorists such as:
- 'Silent bomber' Mohammed Rehman, 25, and Ahmed Khan, 24, the couple who planned to kill hundreds of civilians by blowing up Westfield shopping centre or bombing the Tube
- Lee Rigby's killers Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 22, who were dragged from the dock screaming 'Allahu akbar' and fighting guards after being jailed for life
Lee Rigby's killers Michael Adebolajo (left) and Michael Adebowale are among the sorts of criminals that may be housed in the new institution
One prison source told The Times that it would be better to maintain the the ability to move prisoners, but agreed it would be a good idea to segregate them to stop them 'infecting other inmates with their views.
The review, by former prison governor Ian Acheson, was commissioned by Michael Gove (pictured)
There are concerns that putting all radicals in one prison, or secure units within jails, would create a focal point for protest, something that could be considered a British Guantanamo Bay.
The proposed jail has been dubbed 'The British Alcatraz', likened to the American jail which was created to house the country's most dangerous inmates, all in one place.
The idea behind Alcatraz was to separate them from other prisoners so they could not influence others with their bad behaviour, similar to the purpose of separating Islamist extremists.
Downing Street is said to be interested in the solution in the review, commissioned by justice secretary Michael Gove, which is similar to the approach of isolation taken by France.
However, there are concerns that it could lead to power structured withing the prisons that could be used to intimidate guards.
This issue was brought up in 1995 after six prisoners - including IRA members - broke out of a maximum security unit in Whitemoor jail the previous year.
The review, by former prison governot Ian Acheson, also recommends calling former soldiers into young offenders institutions, and for them to run their own cadet corps.
PRIME MINISTER'S PLANS TO SEGREGATE ISLAMIST PRISONERS
David Camer
Earlier this week, the Prime Minister said ministers were considering the plans as part of the Government's renewed crackdown on extremism in UK jails.
Revealing that currently around 1,000 of Britain's prison population have been identified as extremist or vulnerable to being radicalised, Mr Cameron said inmates convicted of terrorism offences could be relocated to separate locations if prison governors deemed it necessary.
The measures - part of a 'new front' to tackling radicalisation in jails - would prevent prisons becoming a recruitment target for extremists, where terrorists are able to convert 'weak' individuals to Islam through 'intimidation, violence and grooming' to spread a 'warped view of the world'.
'We will not stand by and watch people being radicalised like this while they are in the care of the state,' Mr Cameron declared today in a major speech on prison reform - the first by a prime minister solely on jails in two decades.
'And I want to be clear: I am prepared to consider major changes: from the imams we allow to preach in prison to changing the locations and methods for dealing with prisoners convicted of terrorism offences, if that is what is required.'
The anti-extremism crackdown was part of a radical set of prison reforms unveiled by the Prime Minister on Monday.
He also announced plans to make it easier for authorities to deport foreign criminals by forcing foreign nationals to hand over their passports and declare their nationality in court.
It follows complaints from prison governors that they struggle to identify the nationality of inmates after they have arrived in prison, which slows down the process for deportation.
Mr Cameron said: 'Of course, there is one group I do want out of prison much more quickly, instead of British taxpayers forking out for their bed and breakfast: and that is foreign national offenders.
'One of the big barriers here is that we don’t systematically record the nationality of offenders early enough – and this can hamper our ability to deport them.
'I know the frustrations of prison governors when they have to try to find out someone’s nationality after they’ve already arrived in prison.
'So I can announce today that we will now legislate to give the police new powers to require foreign nationals to hand over their passports, and make them declare their nationality in court.'
'It will help speed up the deportation of foreign criminals in Britain.'
Other major reforms announced today were plans to allow some prisoners out during the week.
The move will see inmates nearing the end of their sentences only locked up behind bars at weekends.
And prisoners will not be forced to declare their criminal records on job applications under new proposals.
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