More than 160 convicted terrorists released early in last seven years, ex-minister warns

Andy Wells
·Freelance Writer
Updated ·3 min read
Convicted terrorists Sudesh Amman and Usman Khan bout launched attacks after they were released from prison. (PA)
Convicted terrorists Sudesh Amman and Usman Khan bout launched attacks after they were released from prison (PA)

More than 160 prisoners convicted of terror offences have been released early over the last seven years, according to a former security minister.

Conservative John Hayes said he was "surprised and disappointed" by the "significant" numbers contained within research compiled by the House of Commons Library.

He added this figure did not include those offenders who had served fewer than 12 months behind bars.

Mr Hayes disclosed the data as he supported the Government's Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill.

John Hayes disclosed the data as he supported the Government's Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill. (Parliament.uk)
John Hayes disclosed the data as he supported the Government's Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill (Parliament.uk)

The legislation aims to prevent automatic release from prison of terrorist offenders halfway through their sentences, following the terror attacks at London Bridge and in Streatham, south London, by convicted terrorists Usman Khan and Sudesh Amman.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Hayes said: "I consulted the House of Commons Library, as good members of this House do, and was surprised and disappointed to find that since 2013 something like 163 convicted terrorists have been released early.

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"I excluded from my considerations anyone who'd been serving a sentence of less than a year.

"Those are just people serving a sentence somewhere between 12 months and more than four years.

"So leaving aside the short sentences, the more serious terrorist prisoners have been released in significant numbers.

"Just imagine the effect on our security services and police of having to deal with the possible consequences of those releases.”

Mr Hayes said he expected some of the people released would have been rehabilitated and de-radicalised.

He added: "But we know that's not always the case.”

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Emergency legislation to prevent the automatic release from prison of terrorist offenders halfway through their sentences moved closer to becoming law on Wednesday.

MPs allowed the Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill to clear all its Commons stages on Wednesday and it will now progress to the Lords for further scrutiny.

Police secure the area in Streatham London, England, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020 after an incident. London's Metropolitan Police said it is investigating a terror-related incident after "a number of people" were stabbed and officers shot a man Sunday. (Jack Odell via AP)
Police secure the area in Streatham after Amman stabbed two people (AP)
File photo dated 02/12/19 of tributes to Cambridge University graduates Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, on London Bridge, who were both stabbed to death by 28-year-old convicted terrorist Usman Khan during a prisoner rehabilitation event they were supporting in London on Friday. Inquests into the deaths of the London Bridge terror attack victims will be opened at the Old Bailey.
Tributes to Cambridge University graduates Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, on London Bridge, who were both stabbed to death by Khan in November (AP)

Ministers want to get legislation on the statute book by 27 February, before the next terrorist prisoner comes up for release.

It follows the Streatham terror attack earlier this month, when Sudesh Amman stabbed two bystanders with a knife he had grabbed from a shop.

The 20-year-old was jailed in December 2018 for possessing and distributing terrorist documents but had been freed midway through his sentence less than a fortnight earlier.

Read more: Next terrorist due to be released as Government rushes to pass emergency law

It was the second attack in three months to be carried out by a convicted terrorist, after Usman Khan stabbed and killed two people at Fishmongers' Hall near London Bridge in November.

He had been released nearly a year earlier, halfway through a 16-year jail sentence.