NEWS
Prisons strategy could fuel extremism
Wednesday 8th June.
Treating all Muslim prisoners as potential terrorists could become a “self-fulfilling prophecy”, according to a new report released today from the Chief Inspector of Prisons.
Dame Anne Owers warns there is a risk of alienating Muslim prisoners, which may result in releasing offenders in to the community “who are more likely to offend, or even embrace extremism.”
The report criticises the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) for focussing too heavily on dealing with security issues surrounding Muslims rather than ensuring appropriate religious observance and preventing discrimination.
“It would be naïve to deny that there are, within the prison population, Muslims who hold radical extremist views,” said Dame Anne Owers. “But that does not argue for a blanket security-led approach to Muslims in general.”
The report calls for prison authorities to support staff training so that Muslim inmates can be treated as individual prisoners with specific risks and needs, rather than as part of a “separate and troubling group”.
Of the 10,300 Muslims in jail across England and Wales, fewer than 1% of these are imprisoned due to terrorist-related offences.
Director General of NOMS, Phil Wheatley, disagreed that prison staff adopt a “blanket” approach. He said: “Our clear policy is that all prisoners are treated with respect and decency, recognising the diverse needs of a complex prison population, and that the legitimate practice of faith in prison is supported.”
Juliet Lyon of the Prisoner’s Reform Trust welcomes the report. She said: “Too often Muslim prisoners are seen as potential extremists in the making instead of a diverse population in need of a safe environment, individual supervision and support and proper preparation for release.”