Government reveals there are SEVEN HUNDRED Islamist and far-right extremists in UK prisons as second 'jail within a jail'

• Number published as Government announces a separation centre at Full Sutton
• It is thought 700 figure is an estimate of inmates linked to any form of extremism
• MoJ said there has been a 75% rise in prisoners convicted of terrorism offences

There are seven hundred prisoners in British jails considered a risk because of their Islamist or far-right nationalist views. 

The number, published for the first time since authorities launched a crackdown on radicalisation behind bars, was disclosed as the Government announced a second separation centre to house the 'most subversive' prisoners at HMP Full Sutton.

Ministers announced plans to set up three specialist facilities to isolate fanatics from the rest of the population last year.

Moves to establish the 'jails within jails' gathered pace after an official review warned that Islamist extremism was a growing problem in prisons in England and Wales.

The assessment found evidence of offenders advocating support for ISIS and 'charismatic' prisoners acting as 'self-styled emirs' to radicalise other inmates.

The first separation centre opened at HMP Frankland in Durham in July.

Announcing the opening of the facility at HMP Full Sutton, in East Yorkshire, the Ministry of Justice said: 'With 700 prisoners considered a risk due to their extremist views, and foreign fighters returning from Syria and Iraq hardened and dangerous, the Government is meeting the challenge of confronting and countering the spread of poisonous ideology within prisons.'

It is understood the 700 figure is an overall estimate of all inmates linked to any form of extremism, including Islamist or far-right ideologies.

The MoJ said there has been a 75 per cent increase in prisoners convicted of terrorism-related offences in the last three years.

At the end of December there were 224 individuals in custody in Britain after being charged with or convicted of terrorism-related crimes.

Of those, 192, or 86 per cent, were assessed as holding Islamist views, while 21, or just under a tenth, were identified as having extreme far-right sympathies.

Justice Secretary David Gauke said there had been a 75 per cent rise in terrorism-related offences over the last three years 

Other prisoners held for non-terrorism offences but deemed to be an extremism risk were also counted in the 700 figure.

Justice Secretary David Gauke said: 'As a result of the Government's unprecedented action to protect the public from extremists, we have seen a 75 per cent rise in terrorism-related prisoners over the last three years.

'That means we need to do more than ever before to confront and counter the threat, including the spread of all forms of poisonous ideology within prisons - and we are meeting that challenge.

'With thousands of prison staff now trained to deal with extremism, an enhanced intelligence capability and separation centres for the most subversive prisoners, we are well equipped to deal with this threat.'

Inmates can be moved to the specialist units if they are linked to terror plotting or considered to pose a risk to national security.

Those seeking to influence others to commit terrorist crimes, or whose extremist views are undermining good order and security behind bars can also be taken out of the mainstream population.

The third centre will be in operation by the end of the year, the MoJ said. The three sites combined will hold up to 28 individuals. 

Up to 70,000 radicalised Islamists lurking in EU

Europe will be locked in a cat and mouse battle with up to 70,000 radicalised Islamists operating within its borders for years to come, experts have warned.

They revealed the huge number of terrorists as they told EU politicians about the increasingly complex threat that will be posed to security services in future.

In a report to the European Parliament, the Paris-based Centre for the Analysis of Terrorism said that potential attackers were increasingly turning to more rudimentary tactics, making them harder to monitor.

The think-tank said IS’s heavy defeats in the Middle East would not diminish its ability to carry out devastating attacks either in Britain or on the UK’s doorstep.

It said the population of radicalised Islamists operating in Europe stands at between 60,000 and 70,000, with France alone said to hold around 20,000.

The think-tank’s chief, Jean-Charles Brisard, said: ‘That is no doubt the main thing which is going to be of a direct concern for years going forward.’

Figures presented by the body said that 62 terrorist incidents occurred in the EU last year.