Ministry of Justice written question – answered at on 11 February 2020.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what processes are in place for the monitoring of people serving sentences for offences under the (a) Terrorism Act 2000 and (b) Terrorism Act 2006.
In 2017 a new joint HMPPS and Home Office Extremism Unit was created to be the strategic centre for all counter terrorism work in prison and probation, and to drive closer working with policy and law enforcement partners. We take the threat posed by terrorist offenders very seriously and this is a key part of our work to improve safety in our prisons, and in the community for those under probation supervision.
We have a range of capabilities to manage the risk posed by terrorist offenders, and to support their disengagement and rehabilitation. Risk management is underpinned through a counter terrorism case management process, which includes a network of specialist counter terrorism officers based in prisons and probation services across England and Wales.
We adopt a multi-agency approach, which allows risk assessments and intelligence to be shared appropriately with the police and security service. In addition, we use interventions – psychological, ideological and theological – to help encourage and facilitate desistance and disengagement, support reintegration into society, and reduce the risk of further offending.
All terrorist offenders released on probation are closely managed by the National Probation Service and HMPPS.
Months before a terrorist offender is released, preparations for their management begin through the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) process. This is led by HMPPS and Police, with input from other partners as required. This process ensures that a set of robust and appropriate licence conditions are drawn up for each offender. These restrictive licence conditions can include: living in approved premises; restrictions on movement and stringent curfews. Failure to adhere to conditions results in enforcement action, and could result in recall to prison.
We will shortly introduce emergency legislation to end the automatic release of terrorist offenders. This will apply to all serving prisoners. Release before the end of their sentence will be dependent on a risk assessment by the Parole Board.
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