Britain faces new terror wave
27th August 2010
One of the major threats in Britain, according to Prof Clarke, is from released prisoners who may have been convicted of terrorist offences or may have been radicalised while in jail. “British prisons still house more terrorists than in any other European country, though not for very long periods,” he warns.
He points out that just 23 people, around 19 per cent of those convicted of terrorism offences, have been given life or indeterminate sentences. Twenty per cent have been sentenced to more than 10 years, and the largest single proportion, 32 per cent, received between eight months and four years. “It raises immediate questions about the motivations of those now released, or soon to be released: are they more or less inclined to reoffend?” he says.
“From previous experience in Northern Ireland, it is more likely that the majority of those released will remain as committed to their cause as before, and may serve as a source of motivation to others, albeit in clandestine ways.”\
And does the government plan to do anything about that? Evidently not.