Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has acknowledged the need to thoroughly investigate the placement of terror suspects in prisons amid questions raised by the recent escape of Daniel Khalife, who faced terror charges.
In response to inquiries about why Daniel Khalife was held at Wandsworth prison rather than the higher-security Belmarsh prison, Chalk emphasised to Sky News the importance of determining the factors that determine prison placement. He expressed his commitment to getting to the bottom of this issue.
However, Chalk did not provide specific numbers when asked how many terror suspects are housed in category B prisons rather than the highest-security category A facilities. He cited the complexities involved in such cases.
Regarding the escape of Daniel Khalife, Chalk underscored that such incidents are rare but taken extremely seriously. An inquiry will investigate the circumstances surrounding the escape and the categorisation of prisoners like Khalife. Preliminary findings are expected by the end of the week.
Chalk assured that necessary security protocols and staff were in place but noted that it’s crucial to determine whether these protocols were followed. He expressed confidence in the senior leadership of the prison service to conduct a thorough investigation.
He also expressed trust in the governor of Wandsworth prison to ensure a comprehensive inquiry into the escape incident.
