The most dangerous extremist prisoners in England and Wales will be held in “supermax-style units” similar to those used in US prisons, David Lammy told MPs.
The deputy prime minister also said he would consider enacting legislation to prevent prisoners from using human rights laws to challenge harsh prison conditions.
Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, was tasked with setting up and reviewing the separation units in May. His report was published on Tuesday.
Lammy said he would accept Hall’s 13 recommendations in full.
They include:
The creation of a new tiered separation center system, with the most dangerous extremists facing stricter conditions. As the Guardian reported last month, Hall recommended that privileges could be granted or revoked depending on closely guarded standards of behavior.
Consider whether new legislation is needed to protect decisions made by experienced staff in separation centers from human rights law. Hall wrote that the prisoners were able to use article 8 of the European convention on human rights (ECHR) to challenge the conditions in the separation centers. “In my view, the government should take steps to limit the application of article 8,” he said.
An expert-led review of training for staff.
Further improve intelligence gathering procedures to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy.
Lammy said segregation centers, special units inside prisons to house Islamic extremists, will be transformed into a new tier system.
The prisons that currently have centers are HMP Full Sutton near York, HMP Frankland in County Durham, and HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes.
Lammy said: “Mr Hall has identified a clear need to change the way separation centers are managed and run. That is why we will explore all available options to overhaul the system, including in the next spending review, the creation of new supermax-style units for the most violent, disruptive prisoners.
“It is a tiered system, with movement between levels allowed after rigorous new risk assessments.
“We will start designing this system immediately.”
Lammy said he would consider whether legislation was needed to “protect decisions made by experienced staff in separation centres” after a high court ruled that a convicted terrorist had violated his human rights by being kept away from other prisoners.
“We will also consider whether a new law is needed to protect the decisions made by experienced staff in separation centers from the mitigation of the grounds of article 8, exploring the full range of options to grant them while it is clear that we remain compliant with our obligations under the ECHR,” he said.
The shadow justice secretary, Nick Timothy, said the UK should leave the ECHR to stop its use by prisoners to “escape detention centres”.