Officers in prisons should be equipped with lethal weapons to effectively combat extremist Islamist terrorists, suggest Tories.
Prison security needs a radical overhaul to deal with the growing threat from Islamist terrorists and violent criminals, according to a counter-extremism expert. The recommendations come in the wake of numerous attacks on prison officers, with the latest being a stabbing at Long Lartin prison in Worcestershire.
Ian Acheson, a former prison governor, has proposed an action plan to address this issue. Highlights of his plan include:
- Equipping Specialized Teams: Arm specialized prison officer teams with tasers, stun grenades, and potentially lethal weapons in exceptional circumstances to enhance their ability to maintain order and protect themselves.
- Removal of Radical Imams: Remove radical Islamist clerics (imams) from prisons to prevent radicalization and extremist influence.
- Rolling Out Protective Equipment: Immediately introduce high-collar stab vests for frontline officers to improve their safety.
- Transparency on Faith-Based Issues: Mandate the quarterly release of data on religious conversions in prison and faith-based incidents to increase transparency and early detection of radicalization.
- Legislative Changes: Overturn the De Silva ruling to limit judicial interference in operational decisions by prison governors, particularly concerning the isolation of extremist inmates.
Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, has supported these recommendations and called for decisive action from the government. He believes that the current threat to prison officers is a national security emergency, and inaction could lead to a prison officer being kidnapped or murdered in the line of duty, or a terrorist attack being directed from inside prison.
Critics, however, argue that the introduction of lethal weapons into prisons would put prison officers at greater risk. The government, for its part, has made efforts to address the crisis, building new prisons and adopting a zero-tolerance approach to violence and extremism.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
In light of the increasing danger from Islamist terrorists and violent criminals in prisons, it is essential to implement measures proposed by Ian Acheson, such as equipping specialized teams with tasers and stun grenades, removing radical imams, providing high-collar stab vests, increasing transparency on faith-based issues, and making legislative changes to limit judicial interference. Meanwhile, Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, has advocated for immediate action from the government, warning that the current threat could lead to a national security emergency. However, critics question whether the introduction of lethal weapons into prisons could further endanger prison officers.
