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Emergency terror legislation is set to become law

The Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill, intending to block the automatic release of people convicted of terror offences, is set to become law after being approved by the House of Lords.

Passed by MPs earlier this month, the legislation was drawn up following an attack in south London at the start of the month, after which it was revealed that the attacker, Sudesh Amman, had recently been freed from prison.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson made it very clear that ministers wanted to pass the bill before 28 February when the next terror offender is due for release.

Under the new emergency measures, which required backing from Parliament, 42-year-old Mohammed Zahir Khan will see his release postponed until the Parole Board has given its approval.

It is thought that the bill will affect approximately 50 prisoners who were convicted under existing rules, which allow for release halfway through a sentence. The legislation will apply to England, Scotland and Wales but the government said it intended to make provisions for Northern Ireland in a future piece of legislation, controversially suggesting that there was no need for ‘immediate measures’ in the region.

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