Convicted Islamist terrorists exploiting growing prison gang culture

London, Mar.31 : Convicted Islamist terrorists are exploiting the growing gang culture in top security jails, fuelling fears that they are trying to radicalise other inmates and foment unrest.

The Times quoted Prison Service and Whitehall officials as saying that they were considering more high-security prison accommodation and establishment of high-security courts to cope with the predicted number of terrorists being prosecuted.

A document titled The National Commission Plan 2008/2009, admits that the Prison Service currently has no specific programmes aimed at the risk posed by extremism within top-security jails.

"There is an urgent requirement to understand the custodial behaviour of this group of offenders and its potential impact on other prisoners," the paper says.

There are more than 130 terrorist prisoners in England and Wales, including 113 category A prisoners.

A Whitehall document released in November said that the number of terrorist prisoners is projected to rise to 1,600 by 2016-17.

ANI