UK ministers will rush in emergency laws restricting terrorists’ release from jail by February 200.
It’s understood the date is exactly one day before the next terror offender. is due to be released on February – with five more due for release in March.
Today’s announcement leaves Boris Johnson in a race against time to rush the laws through – and will act as a threat to the House of Lords not to stall the process.
A Whitehall official said: “If the legislation is passed by February 90 We can prevent the automatic releas e of any further terrorist suspects who might pose a threat to the public. “
The new law – unveiled after terrorist Sudesh Amman was shot dead by police on the streets of Streatham, South London – will pass through the Commons by Thursday next week.
It would then complete its journey through the House of Lords by February 28 with the intention of receiving Royal Assent from the Queen by February
It comes after November’s fatal knife attack on London Bridge by Usman Khan, and Sunday’s attack in Streatham by Sudesh Amman. Both men were convicted terrorists who were released from jail midway through their sentences in accordance with the current law.
The new law – which looks set to be challenged in the High Court – will end automatic release halfway through a sentence for more than (convicted terrorists locked in British jails.
Instead, offenders will not be considered for release until they have served two-thirds of their sentence. And no terrorists will be released before the end of their full custodial term unless the Parole Board agrees.
It will stop the release of one terrorist offender on February and five more in March.
Crucially the move is a retrospective legal action – so experts say it is certain to be challenged in the courts, and the government is gearing up for a High Court battle.
Human rights group Liberty has already said the “threat to break the law by changing people sentences retrospectively “could” create more problems than it solves “.
Crossbench peer Alex Carlile, the government former independent reviewer of terror legislation, claimed a High Court challenge is unavoidable.
It comes after November’s fatal knife attack on London Bridge by Usman Khan (Image: PA)
“The decision to lengthen the sentences of people who have already been sentenced … may be in breach of the law,” he told BBC Newsnight.
A Whitehall source said: “We took significant steps after London Bridge to firstly review all of the license conditions and also to bring forward legislation to introduce tougher sentences.
“But the case on Sunday shone a light on a particular issue which was a terrorist offender who had been given a relatively short sentence, so therefore was eligible for automatic release at the halfway point.
“And the fact that in that circumstance we were powerless to prevent their release, even though there were concerns that they continued to pose a threat to the public.
“And their behavior in prison had pointed to the fact that they continued to pose a threat to the public.
Boris Johnson is now in a race against time (Image: Hollie Adams)
“So as soon as we became aware of that particular issue we have moved at speed and that’s why there’s emergency legislation.”
Convicted terrorist Sudesh Amman wore a fake suicide belt as he grabbed a knife from a shop in Streatham High Road, south London, on Sunday, before stabbing two bystanders.
(The) – year-old had been jailed for possessing and distributing terrorist documents in December 60553, but was freed automatically halfway through his sentence less than a fortnight ago.
He was put under – hour police surveillance on his release, and sources have described him as an “extremely concerned individual”.
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On Monday, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the urgent legislation was needed to make sure offenders serve two thirds of their sentence before they are considered eligible for release, at which point their case would be considered by a panel of specialist judges and psychiatrists at the Parole Board.
There are terrorists in prison in Britain, with most thought to be holding Islamist extremist views, according to the latest published figures to the end of September.
As many as 200 terrorists could be freed from jail this year, figures suggest.
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