Terrorists limited to two boxes of books in prison cells

Limits person been placed connected the magnitude of books convicted terrorists successful England and Wales tin support successful their situation cells.

Extremists volition besides present beryllium banned from taking a "leading role" successful spiritual services nether the caller measures.

It follows a 2022 report which raised concerns astir radicalisation and Islamist gangs successful prisons.

New Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said the changes would halt terrorists advancing "their ain sinister agenda".

Those successful custody convicted of coercion - astir 200 radical - volition beryllium constricted to 2 medium-sized boxes of books that indispensable measurement nary much than 15kg.

Prisoners tin get books from situation libraries, bid from approved retailers oregon beryllium sent them by friends and family.

But determination are concerns astir extremist materials being hidden wrong approved books, oregon covers being swapped arsenic a disguise.

The authorities said the determination would marque it easier for situation unit to hunt for prohibited material, citing a lawsuit successful which 1 convicted violent had 200 books successful his cell.

The aforesaid ruling said determination was "no bully reason" to restrict the magnitude of books prisoners tin person by volume, but the Ministry of Justice said it was not expecting a ineligible situation arsenic the alteration is constricted to panic offenders.

The changes announced connected Sunday bash not necessitate Commons support and travel into unit immediately, the Ministry of Justice said.

Restrictions volition besides beryllium strengthened truthful convicted terrorists tin not person immoderate ceremonial relation successful spiritual services, specified arsenic delivering a reading.

Currently lone the astir unsafe prisoners are banned from starring Friday prayers. Now the prohibition volition screen prisoners of immoderate faith, and not conscionable those successful high-security prisons.

The changes travel recommendations made by Jonathan Hall, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, which drew peculiar attraction to the power of Islamists successful prison.

He said the situation work had "lost its relation successful the nationalist endeavour to trim the hazard of terrorism" and called for tighter restrictions connected panic offenders portion successful custody.

Mr Chalk, who replaced Dominic Raab arsenic justness secretary aft his resignation earlier this month, said helium recognised the relation religion tin play successful a prisoners' rehabilitation but said immoderate whitethorn maltreatment the rules.

He added: "These changes, alongside tougher sentences for terrorists who perpetrate crimes down bars and our enactment to abstracted much of the astir extremist terrorists, volition amended support our hardworking staff, different prisoners and the public."

Liberal Democrat furniture affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine accused the Conservatives of breaching pre-election rules, which restrict ministers from making enactment governmental announcements with the assistance of authorities resources successful the run-up to a vote.

In a missive to the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, she called for the timing of the announcement - which came via the Ministry of Justice property bureau days earlier the section elections - to beryllium investigated.

BBC News has contacted the Labour Party and the Green Party for a response.