Islamist extremism is “still one of the biggest problems” in prisons, a scathing report has found.
The Henry Jackson Society has warned overcrowding and violence behind bars has led to more gangs being formed.
And “extremist views are aired freely”, with little done to challenge the hatred, the HJS said.
The think-tank declared the Ministry of Justice must build more prisons, hire additional staff and commit to the “Norwegian” model of justice, which incentivises rehabilitation and sees guards “embedded” within units to manage behaviour.
But Dr. Theo Zenou, who wrote the report Prison Break: Reforming Britain’s Prison System, said staff must be “empowered” to tackle extremism behind bars.
Drawing from an interview with an Imam behind bars, Dr Zenou said: “Islamism is still one of the biggest problems that the service is facing where prisoners can radicalise other prisoners very, very easily.
“He [the anonymous Imam] described an environment in which extremist views are aired freely. In the aftermath of the 7 October terrorist attacks in Israel, for example, he said that some prisoners shouted “death to the Jews” at Friday sermons.
“Prisoners join Islamist gangs in order to avoid becoming the target of violence – both by Islamists and by other groups.
“This forces some Muslim prisoners to embrace a radical interpretation of their faith. It also leads to insincere conversions by non-Muslims.
“I saw many prisoners when I was with them in one jail, they were Muslims. But, when they came to me in another jail, they had become Christians or non-Muslims,” the imam said.
“He summed it up thusly: “In some of the jails, if you want to be protected, the best thing is to become Muslim.”
Some 85,826 prisoners were behind bars on Monday, November 11.
Justice chiefs had to release almost 3,000 criminals to avoid the prison overcrowding crisis leading to an unprecedented situation of police being unable to arrest criminals.
The Henry Jackson Society warned as many as 72 of the prisons in England and Wales are “overcrowded”.
Dr Zenou states: “As a consequence of overcrowding, something as basic as going to the toilet becomes a source of anxiety and unease. At HMP Stoke Heath, for instance, cells are so crowded that prisoners’ bunks are located right next to the toilets. Sometimes there is a curtain acting as separation, sometimes there is nothing at all.
“Drug use is also commonplace. Psychoactive substances circulate freely. According to Peter Clarke, the former Chief Inspector of Prisons, “some of them are deluged in it. It’s making them virtually unmanageable.
“And violence – whether between prisoners or directed at guards – is ubiquitous.”
Describing the Norwegian system, Dr Zenou said it prioritises rehabilitation – but said the jails are “not lax.”
Guards are embedded with the prisoners, meaning they can clamp down swiftly on any bad behaviour.
But they can also build closer relationships by eating together, playing sports and checking on “how prisoners are doing”.
In his report, Dr Zenou concluded: “In the long term, a prison system that prizes rehabilitation leads to less crime and thus fewer criminals in prison. But, in the short term, the Government must build more prisons. That much is obvious.
“The new Labour Government must meet – if not exceed – the 20,000 target. 20,000 is the minimum. In order to ease over-overcrowding, and thus start to improve living conditions, more prison places are needed.
“If the Government has to build more prisons, it should take the opportunity to start implementing prison reform.
“These new prisons should be pilot schemes for a new prison system. They should showcase another approach to incarceration and be designed with a focus on rehabilitation – incorporating concepts from the Norwegian model such as normalisation and dynamic security.”
