UK Government Announces Supermax-Style Prison Units for Terrorist Inmates
Justice Secretary David Lammy has unveiled plans to create new supermax-style prison units for the most dangerous terrorist offenders in England and Wales. The move comes in response to a violent incident at HMP Frankland where Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi allegedly attacked three prison officers with hot cooking oil and makeshift weapons.
Review of Separation Centres and Human Rights Challenges
Mr Lammy announced he will examine establishing tougher separation centres inspired by the notoriously harsh US prison system, alongside a comprehensive review of how the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is being used by extremist prisoners to challenge their treatment in custody.
The announcement follows the publication of a review by the Government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, which examined the operation of three existing separation centres at:
- HMP Frankland in County Durham
- HMP Full Sutton near York
- HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes
Tiered System Proposed for Separation Centres
While Mr Hall's review concluded there were strong reasons why supermax categorisation is not the right response to the Abedi attack, he recommended creating a tiered separation centre system where all units would be brought within a single prison establishment.
Under this proposed system:
- Prisoners could progress to tiers offering better conditions and privileges through good behaviour
- Those causing trouble would move down to tiers with harsher conditions
- Movement between tiers would require rigorous new risk assessments
Mr Lammy told MPs he would look at creating new tougher supermax-style units for the most violent, disruptive prisoners, though the Government indicated it would aim for multiple separation centre sites rather than concentrating them in one facility.
Human Rights Convention Under Scrutiny
The review highlighted particular concerns about Article 8 of the ECHR - the right to private and family life - which has been used by prisoners to challenge their segregation from other inmates. Mr Hall recommended ministers should take steps to limit the application of Article 8 so it doesn't apply to placement within separation centres.
Despite this conclusion, Mr Lammy announced a further review of Article 8 to determine whether legislative changes are needed to limit prisoners' ability to bring human rights challenges. This follows several cases where convicted terrorists have successfully argued their rights were breached by isolation from other prisoners, sometimes resulting in significant compensation payments.
Political Reactions and Broader Context
The announcement has sparked political debate, with Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy criticising Labour's promises on Article 8 as containing nothing concrete and arguing that leaving the ECHR is necessary for meaningful reform. The Conservative Party has already pledged to withdraw from the human rights convention if they win the next general election.
Reform MP Robert Jenrick commented: If Lammy wanted to fix this crisis he'd leave the ECHR. But he doesn't, so taxpayer money will keep going to convicted terrorists in prison.
The incident at HMP Frankland involved Hashem Abedi, who was convicted of 22 counts of murder and one count of attempted murder relating to the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people. He is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 55 years and has denied the alleged attack on prison guards at Frankland.
