Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has announced a significant overhaul of the prison system in England and Wales, with plans to introduce "supermax-style units" modelled on facilities in the United States. These new units are designed to house the most dangerous and disruptive extremist prisoners, marking a major shift in how high-risk inmates are managed.
Transforming Separation Centres
Lammy told MPs that the government will accept all 13 recommendations from a review conducted by Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation. The review, commissioned in May and published this week, calls for a complete transformation of separation centres, which are special units within prisons currently used to isolate Islamist extremists.
The deputy prime minister emphasised that the current system requires urgent reform. "Mr Hall identifies a clear need to transform the way that separation centres are governed and operated," Lammy stated. "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."
Key Recommendations and Implementation
The government's plan involves establishing a new tiered separation centre system, where the most dangerous extremists will face stricter conditions. Movement between tiers will be permitted only after rigorous new risk assessments, with privileges earned or removed based on closely monitored behaviour standards.
Lammy confirmed that design work on this system will begin immediately. The three prisons currently housing separation centres are HMP Full Sutton near York, HMP Frankland in County Durham, and HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes.
Addressing Human Rights Challenges
A particularly contentious aspect of the announcement concerns potential legislation to prevent prisoners from using human rights laws to challenge tougher jail conditions. Hall's report highlighted that prisoners have successfully used Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to contest conditions in separation centres.
"In my view, the government should take steps to limit the application of article 8," Hall wrote in his review. This follows a High Court ruling that a convicted terrorist had his human rights breached by being kept away from other prisoners.
Lammy responded by stating: "We will also consider whether new legislation is needed to protect decisions taken by experienced staff in separation centres from mitigation on article 8 grounds, exploring the full range of options to deliver this while being clear we will remain compliant with our obligations under the ECHR."
Political Reactions and Additional Measures
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy took a harder line, arguing that the UK must leave the ECHR entirely to prevent prisoners from using it to "escape separation centres." This highlights the ongoing political debate surrounding human rights and prison management.
Beyond the structural changes, Hall's recommendations include an expert-led review of staff training and improvements to intelligence collection practices to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy. These measures aim to support prison staff in managing these challenging environments more effectively.
The announcement represents one of the most substantial reforms to high-security prison management in recent years, with implications for national security, human rights law, and prison administration across England and Wales.
