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Automatic early release of terrorists ends

The emergency legislation to prevent the automatic early release of terrorist offenders has become law in just 15 days, meaning that approximately 50 jailed extremists will see their automatic release blocked.

The urgent measures, introduced following the Streatham attack at the start of February, received substantial support across Parliament, making sure the new law is on the statute book as quickly as possible. The decision will mean terrorist offenders cannot be released before the end of their sentence without a risk assessment by the Parole Board.

The legislation will apply to offenders sentenced for crimes such as training for terrorism, membership of a proscribed organisation, and the dissemination of terrorist publications, and will end the current automatic half-way release for terrorist offenders who receive standard determinate sentences, forcing them to spend a minimum of two-thirds of their term behind bars.

The government is also reviewing the current maximum penalties and sentencing framework for terrorist offences, on the underlying principle that terrorist offenders should no longer be released until the Parole Board is satisfied that they are no longer a risk to the public.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said: “No terrorist should be released early only to kill and maim on our streets. Protecting the public is government’s first duty and our message is clear – enough is enough. From today, terrorist offenders will only be released before the end of their sentence if the independent Parole Board is satisfied they no longer pose a threat, and they will face the strictest possible conditions and monitoring upon release.”

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