Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has announced plans to introduce 'supermax-style units' in England and Wales for the most dangerous extremist prisoners, drawing inspiration from similar facilities in the United States. Speaking to MPs, Lammy confirmed he will consider legislation to prevent inmates from using human rights laws to challenge harsher conditions.
The announcement follows a review by Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, whose 13 recommendations were accepted in full. Hall’s report, commissioned in May and published on Tuesday, proposed a tiered separation centre system where privileges could be earned or removed based on behaviour. Lammy said this would transform existing separation centres, currently located at HMP Full Sutton, HMP Frankland, and HMP Woodhill.
Lammy elaborated: 'Mr Hall identifies a clear need to transform the way that separation centres are governed and operated. That is why we will explore all available options to overhaul the system, including at the next spending review, the creation of new tougher supermax-style units for the most violent, disruptive prisoners.' He added that movement between tiers would require rigorous risk assessments.
The deputy prime minister also flagged potential legislative changes to limit the application of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) after a High Court ruling that a convicted terrorist’s rights were breached by isolation. Hall had argued that prisoners have exploited Article 8 to challenge separation centre conditions.
Shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy called for the UK to leave the ECHR entirely, while Andrea Coomber of the Howard League for Penal Reform expressed concern, noting that Hall's review did not recommend supermax-style prisons and warning against watering down human rights protections.
