Robert Jenrick rages at Labour's 'pitiful' response to Muslim extremism in prisons

has called for more to be done to tackle Muslim extremism in UK prisons as he slams Labour's "pitiful" response to the issue. The shadow justice secretary noted the increase in white Muslims in the country's prison population, which far outstrips the number in the general population. He wrote in : "Their grip is so strong prisoners have reportedly been placed in isolation to protect them from the Islamist gangs who target them. There are accounts of sharia law courts and floggings and beatings.

"Some prisoners convert to Islam for their own protection. Why is it, for instance, that analysis by The Telegraph shows 19.9% of Muslims in UK prisons are white, nearly three times higher than the rate in the general Muslim population? The response from the Ministry of Justice has been pitiful. Prison imams have been found unable and sometimes unwilling to promote British values and take on violent fundamentalism from Muslim prisoners."

Mr Jenrick also called for specialist prison to tackle the escalating threat posed by Islamist gangs and violent convicts.

He urged for secure armaments containing deadly weapons in maximum-security penitentiaries. This would see elite units in category A prisons equipped with Tasers, stun grenades, and baton rounds, similar to the practice in American.

The shadow justice secretary added that high-collar stab vests for front-line staff should be delivered immediately.

These recommendations stem from a rapid review he requested, which was conducted by Professor Ian Acheson, an ex-prison governor who previously offered expert advice to the Tories on extremism within prisons.

It follows the recent attack at HMP Long Lartin, Worcestershire, where a prison officer suffered grave injuries after being stabbed by a belligerent prisoner using a knife suspected to .

Last month witnessed a brutal assault by Hashem Abedi, the Manchester Arena bomber, within the segregation unit of HMP Frankland, County Durham.

He launched an attack on three wardens, hurling boiling cooking oil and assaulting them with homemade knives derived from kitchen baking trays.

In response to these incidents, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has called for a comprehensive review.