Streatham terror attack: Terror offenders will be jailed indefinitely under government proposals

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Jonathan Hall QC told an event in parliament: “That doesn’t mean that prison is not the right remedy, but its consequences must be addressed, including, as the HMP Whitemoor attack shows, recognising that terrorism offending does not stop at the prison door and there is no automatic ‘job done’ when a terrorist is behind bars.” Last month, The Independent revealed that up to 800 inmates have been flagged for extremism concerns – almost four times the number of terrorist prisoners – and officers felt too stretched to spot radicalisation. “We will ensure that the functions of the Parole Board are strengthened to deal even more effectively with the specific risk that terrorists pose to public safety.” Sadiq Khan warns Streatham attack was 'preventable' Mr Buckland said emergency legislation would apply retrospectively to terrorist prisoners given standard determinate sentences like Amman’s. Downing Street said there would also be a full review of the maximum prison sentences for terror offences, including looking at whether terrorist offenders of all levels of seriousness should be held in jail indefinitely until the Parole Board assesses they are no longer a threat to the public. Responding to sentencing changes in early 2018, the body raised concern about radicalisation in prisons and said: “There are concerns that increasing the penalties for less serious offenders will result in them becoming more likely to commit terrorist acts when they are released.” The former head of counterterror police warned on Monday that “more dangerous people” are now being released from British prisons than returning from Syria.