UK plans specialist prison units for extremists

Britain’s most dangerous extremists will be locked up in specialist isolated high-security units within prisons to prevent them from radicalising other inmates, authorities said on Sunday, days after the conviction of well known radical Islamic preacher Anjem Choudary.

The plan is part of a broader strategy to tackle radicalisation in British prisons to be launched next week by UK justice secretary Liz Truss under which inmates will receive targeted treatment to deal with their dangerous views.

She said: “The rise of Islamist extremism poses an existential threat to our society. I am committed to confronting and countering the spread of this poisonous ideology behind bars.

“Preventing the most dangerous extremists from radicalising other prisoners is essential to the safe running of our prisons and fundamental to public protection.” 

The new units will be built inside some of the UK’s highest security jails.