Guards at London prison 'unable to identify suspected extremists'

Some guards at a London prison that specialises in young male offenders are "unaware of how to identify and report suspected extremists" despite the presence of "individuals of concern", a government watchdog warned today.

Peter Clarke, the chief inspector of prisons, said that most staff at Isis jail in south-east London knew how to tackle the risks of radicalisation.

But he warned that despite regular meetings to discuss the dangers, others still remained ignorant of their responsibilities.

Mr Clarke's warning comes in a critical report on the prison published today and will add to concerns about the action taken in prisons to prevent the spread of extremist ideas behind bars.

It follows a report by the former prison governor Ian Acheson which warned that charismatic" inmates acting as self-styled "emirs" are exerting a radicalising influence in prisons and that extremist Islamic State supporters are threating staff, other prisoners and jail chaplains.

Justice Secretary Liz Truss responded to the report - which also warned of Islamist radicals trying to force prison guards to leave Friday prayers - by announcing reforms including the creation of special units to house those who "seek to poison the minds of others".

Mr Clarke, a former police officer who headed Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command for several years, says, however, that the measures taken at Isis, which houses 600 male prisoners, nearly all under 30, are insufficient.

"Most staff we spoke to were aware of their responsibilities but, despite work to raise awareness of this issue, some staff remained unaware of how to identify and report suspected extremists and those at risk of radicalisation," his report states.

In other criticisms, Mr Clarke says that Isis, which opened only six years ago, is blighted by high levels of violence with 200 fights or assaults during 2105 with "too many" prisoners feeling unsafe.

He also says that "living conditions for some prisoners were unacceptable, with dirt and graffiti in many areas" and filthy toilets and warns that staff shortages mean that many inmates remain locked in their cells for excessive periods.

Many miss work training or education classes as a result, meaning that the prison is "completely failing in its central purpose" of preparing prisoners for their return to society.