Terrorists to take lie detector tests to 'prove they won't carry out another attack'

21 January 2020, 08:53 | Updated: 21 January 2020, 08:56

The wave of measures in the Counter Terrorism (Sentencing and Release) Bill were released after the latest London Bridge attack
The wave of measures in the Counter Terrorism (Sentencing and Release) Bill were released after the latest London Bridge attack. Picture: PA

Terrorists could be forced to take lie detector tests to prove they are reformed characters and not planning another attack in new plans announced by the Government.

Plans to introduce "polygraph testing" are part of a "major overhaul" in the way terrorists are punished and monitored, including tougher sentences to see them locked up for longer.

The wave of measures in the Counter Terrorism (Sentencing and Release) Bill were released after the latest London Bridge attack prompted plans for change.

It is less than two months since convicted terrorist Usman Khan embarked on a killing spree armed with two knives and wearing a fake suicide vest after attending a prisoner rehabilitation programme near London Bridge.

It is understood there are hopes terrorists who are going to be out on licence could be made to take the polygraph test in a similar way to which sex offenders are sometimes questioned to check their behaviour.

Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones were killed in the November attack
Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones were killed in the November attack. Picture: PA

Describing the move as a "major shift" in the UK's approach to the sentencing and management of terrorist offenders, the announcement from the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) also promised to:

- Force dangerous terrorists who receive extended determinate sentences to serve the whole time behind bars.

- Ensure those convicted of serious offences such as preparing acts of terrorism or directing a terrorist organisation would have to spend a minimum of 14 years in jail.

- Scrap early release from jail for those classed as dangerous and handed extended determinate sentences - in which criminals have to spend longer on licence after prison.

- Double the number of counter terrorism probation officers.

Officers guard London Bridge after the November 29 attack
Officers guard London Bridge after the November 29 attack. Picture: PA

- Make more places available in probation hostels so authorities can monitor terrorists in the weeks after they are released from prison.

- Increase counter-terrorism policing funding by £90 million year-on-year for the coming year to £906 million.

- Give an immediate £500,000 cash injection for support for victims of terrorism and a review of services available.

- Provide more specialist psychologists and trained imams who help to assess the risk of radicalised offenders.

- Offer more training for front-line prison and probation staff to identify and challenge extremism behind bars and on licence.

Terrorists deemed not to be a risk would have to serve two-thirds of their sentence before the Parole Board could consider them for release.

Jonathan Hall QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, will also review the way in which agencies like the police, probation and security services investigate and monitor terrorists - known as Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (Mappa).

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "The senseless terror attack at Fishmongers' Hall in November confronted us with some hard truths about how we deal with terrorist offenders, which is why we immediately announced a review into sentencing and licence conditions, to do whatever is necessary to stop these sickening attacks from taking place.

"Today we are delivering on those promises."

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said: "Terrorists pose a great risk to our society and our way of life, which is why we must bring them to justice and keep the public safe."

Khan, a 28-year-old British national from Staffordshire, had been released from prison on licence in December 2018, halfway through a 16-year prison sentence after he was convicted of terror offences in February 2012.

He was part of an al Qaida-inspired terror group, linked to radical preacher Anjem Choudary, that plotted to bomb the London Stock Exchange and build a terrorist training camp on land in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir owned by his family.

Staffordshire Police is being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct for its role in managing Khan.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said the announcement of a security overhaul was "an admission of failure" by the Government.

"Major terrorist outrages have occurred all too frequently, including attacks by perpetrators who were known to the security services," she said.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokeswoman Christine Jardine said judges already had the power to lock up terrorists for life while polygraphs were "not accurate or reliable enough" for such critical decisions.

"We will continue to oppose authoritarian laws that do little to make us safer, but a lot to undermine essential British freedoms," she said.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

Exclusive
Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

France Valentino

Former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele named Valentino creative director

Know your limits this summer, Brits have been warned

‘Know your limits’: Brits heading to the Euros this summer warned against drinking ‘too much German beer’

Russia Shooting

Russia arrests another suspect in concert hall attack that killed 143

Sam Bankman-Fried has been jailed for 25 years for a $8bn crypto fraud

'Crypto King' Sam Bankman-Fried jailed for 25 years for stealing billions of dollars from his customers

Michael Gove has been urged to 'get on with' passing the rental reforms

Ministers accused of making 'major concessions to landlords' after renters reforms 'watered down'

Supermarket opening times for Easter 2024: Trading hour revealed for Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi

Supermarket opening times for Easter 2024: Trading hours revealed for Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi

It is believed the litter picking tool was mistaken for a firearm, Northumbria Police said

Schools locked down by police after litter picker mistaken for firearm

Lewes prison

Medical incident declared at Lewes prison after several inmates hospitalised with food poisoning