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Islamist extremists to have separate prison units

Justice Secretary Liz Truss has announced that the government is set to establish special prison units to hold Islamist extremists, in order to prevent them from radicalising other inmates. The news follows a review into extremism in prisons, led by former prison governor Ian Acheson, which found there was ‘institution timidity’ in challenging extremist views in prison, with staff fearful of being considered racist. One of the recommendations in the report advised that violent extremists should be ‘incapacitated’ in a way that would keep them from interacting with other prisoners. It suggested creating special units in high security prisons, completely physically isolated from the rest of the jails. Nonetheless, opponents of the scheme have warned the move could turn infamous Islamist inmates into heroes, meaning some of the most dangerous men are kept in a select few prison units. In an interview with the BBC, Acheson said: "Prisons must be places where there is order, control, stability and leadership. In the absence of these foundations it is all too easy for extremism to flourish and rehabilitation to founder. "There are no easy answers to the problem of Islamist extremism or indeed any of the other ills which plague our prisons and stop them being hopeful purposeful places. But I am optimistic about the way Liz Truss has begun to deal with the issues and correct the drift." The plans have also arrived as radical cleric Anjem Choudary has been convicted of inviting other to support so-call Islamic State, and is due to be sentenced in September.

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