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UK to end early release of terror prisoners

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AFP London
Last Updated : Jan 21 2020 | 6:20 AM IST

Britain on Tuesday unveiled plans to end the early release of terrorism prisoners and increase their sentences, following last year's London Bridge attack by convicted terrorist Usman Khan.

The government said it would launch a "major review" of how convicted terrorists are managed in response to the November 29 violence, which saw Khan kill two people before being shot dead by police.

The attack, which occurred during the general election campaign, immediately became highly politicised as Khan had already served timed for terror offences before being released early.

The reforms announced aim to ensure those convicted of serious offences, such as preparing acts of terrorism or directing a terrorist organisation, spend at least 14 years in prison.

They will also force such offenders to serve their whole sentence behind bars -- rather than be eligible for early release -- and overhaul the terrorist licensing rules.

"The senseless terror attack... in November confronted us with some hard truths about how we deal with terrorist offenders," Home Secretary (interior minister) Priti Patel said in a statement.

"Today we are... giving police and probation officers the resources they need to investigate and track offenders, introducing tougher sentences, and launching major reviews into how offenders are managed after they are released."

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First Published: Jan 21 2020 | 6:20 AM IST

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