Convicted terrorists are snubbing a flagship deradicalisation scheme intended to wean them off extremism, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Inmates at high-security prisons including HMP Belmarsh, HMP Wakefield and HMP Frankland are urged to enrol on the Healthy Identity Intervention programme, but 15 have refused to do so since January 2018.
According to figures unearthed using Freedom of Information rules, a further ten were on a waiting list to join the HII scheme in March - sparking fears they could be released without efforts to deradicalise them.
The revelation has alarmed Professor Ian Acheson and Professor John Podmore, two former prison governors, who fear the programme is failing to adequately address extremism within prison walls.
Those who have taken part in the project include Usman Khan (pictured), who stabbed two people to death at a rehabilitation conference at Fishmongers' Hall next to London Bridge in November before being shot dead by police
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‘We don't have that many terrorists in custody but the damage they can cause individuals and society is huge,' said Prof Acheson, whose independent Government review of extremism in jails recommended that prisoners who ‘remain dangerous or refuse to engage' should be held ‘indefinitely'.
‘When I looked at HII in 2016, I was told by a community activist working with some of its graduates that they were able to "game" the programme - appearing to change their toxic world view outwardly while maintaining an ideological commitment to terrorism.
‘It's not surprising that this report shows many are apparently refusing to participate.' According to the latest Government figures, 224 prisoners are serving sentences for terror related crimes. Of those, 173 are Islamist extremists.
The HII scheme, which was piloted in 2010 and tử cấm thành will be assessed in 2022, has previously drawn criticism. Christopher Dean, the psychologist who designed the programme, has even conceded that some of those who have taken part regressed.
ATTACK: The moment Usman Khan was tackled at London Bridge in November last year
Asked about the convicted terrorists waiting to start the scheme, Prof Podmore, a former governor at Belmarsh, said: ‘Why do we have a waiting list? The schemes need proper funding.'
On those who refuse to take part, he added: ‘If it's a two or three-year sentence, keeping them in the Category A [jail] until release because they won't engage doesn't help anyone.'
Those who have taken part in the project include Usman Khan, tử cấm thành who stabbed two people to death at a rehabilitation conference at Fishmongers' Hall next to London Bridge in November before being shot dead by police.
In the wake of the attack, Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to review sentences for terrorist crimes and the Government has since introduced the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill.
Last night, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said: ‘We have world-leading measures to stop extremists from spreading their poisonous ideology behind bars and our new legislation means they will now face much tougher sentences.
‘The vast majority of high-security terror offenders have completed or are taking part in programmes, but those who refuse will remain in our strictest prisons.'
Inmates at high-security prisons including HMP Belmarsh, HMP Wakefield and HMP Frankland are urged to enrol on the Healthy Identity Intervention programme, but 15 have refused to do so since January 2018.
According to figures unearthed using Freedom of Information rules, a further ten were on a waiting list to join the HII scheme in March - sparking fears they could be released without efforts to deradicalise them.
The revelation has alarmed Professor Ian Acheson and Professor John Podmore, two former prison governors, who fear the programme is failing to adequately address extremism within prison walls.
Those who have taken part in the project include Usman Khan (pictured), who stabbed two people to death at a rehabilitation conference at Fishmongers' Hall next to London Bridge in November before being shot dead by police
RELATED ARTICLES
Previous
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Next
Man who allegedly let the Manchester Arena bomber's brother... Counter terrorism police fear ISIS cells are being...
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‘We don't have that many terrorists in custody but the damage they can cause individuals and society is huge,' said Prof Acheson, whose independent Government review of extremism in jails recommended that prisoners who ‘remain dangerous or refuse to engage' should be held ‘indefinitely'.
‘When I looked at HII in 2016, I was told by a community activist working with some of its graduates that they were able to "game" the programme - appearing to change their toxic world view outwardly while maintaining an ideological commitment to terrorism.
‘It's not surprising that this report shows many are apparently refusing to participate.' According to the latest Government figures, 224 prisoners are serving sentences for terror related crimes. Of those, 173 are Islamist extremists.
The HII scheme, which was piloted in 2010 and tử cấm thành will be assessed in 2022, has previously drawn criticism. Christopher Dean, the psychologist who designed the programme, has even conceded that some of those who have taken part regressed.
ATTACK: The moment Usman Khan was tackled at London Bridge in November last year
Asked about the convicted terrorists waiting to start the scheme, Prof Podmore, a former governor at Belmarsh, said: ‘Why do we have a waiting list? The schemes need proper funding.'
On those who refuse to take part, he added: ‘If it's a two or three-year sentence, keeping them in the Category A [jail] until release because they won't engage doesn't help anyone.'
Those who have taken part in the project include Usman Khan, tử cấm thành who stabbed two people to death at a rehabilitation conference at Fishmongers' Hall next to London Bridge in November before being shot dead by police.
In the wake of the attack, Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to review sentences for terrorist crimes and the Government has since introduced the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill.
Last night, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said: ‘We have world-leading measures to stop extremists from spreading their poisonous ideology behind bars and our new legislation means they will now face much tougher sentences.
‘The vast majority of high-security terror offenders have completed or are taking part in programmes, but those who refuse will remain in our strictest prisons.'
