𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The most dangerous convicted terrorists will face “supermax-style” conditions behind bars after Hashem Abedi allegedly attempted to kill three prison officers. Terror watchdog Jonathan Hall KC concluded prison wings should be overhauled to prevent jihadis from poisoning the minds of other prisoners. And Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was told the UK must leave the ECHR, to stop prisoners using human rights laws to “escape separation centres”. It comes after Mr Hall revealed how extremists are effectively gaming the system to meet and conspire with one another.

He highlighted a series of cases where terrorists, including one who threatened to behead prison officers and a murderer who held one hostage, used Article 8 of the ECHR – the right to a family life – to get out of the high security wings to meet with others.

The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation found: “This galloping application of Article 8 has therefore gone from providing additional protection for a prisoner in solitary confinement to prisoners in small units such as Close Supervision Centres and Separation Centres, who either can associate with as many as 7 other individuals, or who unreasonably refuse to associate.

“The consequences of putting one dangerous prisoner with another prisoner can be stark, and decision making must be dynamic.

“It is a surprising result if day-to-day assessment of whether X prisoner can mix with Y prisoner in a Close Supervision Centre requires layers of procedural fairness based on the right to private and family life.

“If as I recommend the lowest tier of the Separation Centre system should be a Close Supervision Centre, then I foresee that terrorist prisoners will seek to exploit this ruling to argue that they should be allowed out with this one, and not with that one, and that any decision they disagree with is contrary to Article 8.

“Prison staff must be freed to manage risk without having to second-guess whether and how Article 8 applies in the prison setting.

“In my view, the government should take steps to limit the application of Article 8. Specifically, Article 8 should not govern decisions on placement into Separation Centres or inter-prisoner association within any part of the Separation Centre system (including within Close Supervision Centres).”

Sources described the group as “highly litigious”, leading to officers “second guessing” themselves amid fears of legal challenges.

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy told the Commons: “The problems for prisons caused by our human rights laws are well documented.

“The Justice Secretary said he would ‘consider if new laws are needed to limit litigation based on Article 8 of the European Convention’.

“He said he was ‘exploring the full range of options’ but promised nothing concrete and is obligatory in this government of human rights lawyers pledged fealty to the European Convention.”

He added: “The simple truth is, as long as we remain in the ECHR, he can’t guarantee a thing, and that is why we must leave.”

Mr Lammy: “We are absolutely clear that talk about leaving the European Convention of Human Rights, a convention that was championed by Winston Churchill, would leave children, the elderly and many vulnerable victims… in the most vulnerable of positions. We cannot and must not do that.”

Reform’s Robert Jenrick said: “Right now Islamist extremists and violent prisoners are dominating prison wings.

“If the Government was serious about fixing this they would repeal the human rights laws that allow extremists to avoid prison isolation. But instead it’s more delays and procrastination from Calamity Lammy who hasn’t the faintest idea how to solve this problem.”

Justice chiefs ordered a probe into separation centres after Abedi, the brother of the Manchester Arena suicide bomber, allegedly poured a pan of hot oil over one officer before stabbing him in the neck with a home-made knife.

Influential jihadis, hate preachers and radical extremists, such as Abedi, will face restrictions “inspired” by American supermax prisons, as part of a new tiered system.

In the US, the most dangerous terrorists are handcuffed every time they leave their cells and are escorted by prison officers everywhere they go.

They are also kept in their cells for 23 hours a day.

Mr Lammy told MPs: “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.

“This will be a tiered system, with movement between tiers only permitted following rigorous new risk assessments. We will begin designing this system immediately.”

The Prison Officers’ Association said some of the country’s most dangerous offenders should not have access to kitchens.

Abedi sparked fury after allegedly pouring hot oil, taken from the kitchen, over a prison officer before stabbing him with a home-made knife made from a food tray.

Three other officers came to his aid and were also attacked. Two of them needed surgery for the injuries they suffered and another suffered a broken finger.

Other inmates at the Frankland separation centre appeared to be aware of the plan. They deliberately congregated in the gym as a diversion, leaving only three guards to supervise Abedi.

Abedi was charged with three counts of attempted murder on three different officers and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, on a fourth officer, on April 12 this year.

He is also accused of unauthorised possession of several makeshift knives that he had allegedly crafted from metal cooking trays.

With his brother, the suicide bomber Salman Abedi, Hashem Abedi planned and prepared the attack on the Ariana Grande concert in 2017.

The convicted terrorist is serving at least 55 years.