Rising Islamist prison gangs challenge UK jails, inspectors say

A pattern of Islamist prison gangs is described as unchecked in Britain’s prisons, including HMP Swaleside in Kent, according to inspectors and the Independent Monitoring Board. In Swaleside, officials say gangs claiming loyalty to Islam have asserted influence over the Category B jail, creating an environment with filthy cells, drugs, and a pervasive sense of despair. The development is part of a broader trend noted across the prison estate, with some of the country’s most secure facilities—Frankland in County Durham and Belmarsh in London—reported to be affected.

Jonathan Hall KC, the government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, described Islamist prison groups as a "deep-seated phenomenon", a view echoed by Steve Gillan, general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association, who has called the gangs a "real problem" that shows no signs of going away.

Historically, gangs in prisons have existed, but the profile of the groups has changed with the rise of terrorist offenders since the early 2000s. Ian Acheson’s 2016 government-commissioned review urged the creation of "separation centres" in three jails to house the most charismatic and dangerous extremists. In a dark irony, Frankland prison, once cited as a warning example, is now reported to be overrun by Islamist gangs; inmates who refuse to join are reportedly housed in the prison’s separation centre for their own protection. A criminal defence barrister, Tony Wyatt, recounted that some prisoners are held in "total lockdown" amid the breakdown of order, saying, "There are so many who are members of Muslim gangs in prison, you just can't contain the problem."

Prisoners join these groups for protection, ideological affiliation, or perceived benefits—such as more time out of cells for meetings and prayers. There are claims that governors avoid cracking down on them, arguing that Islamist group behaviour brings a degree of calm and stability in some wings. In his 2022 report, Hall noted a reluctance to focus on Islamist group behaviour, and that staff would sometimes appeal to the 'wing emir' to maintain order, a dynamic that critics say complicates enforcement and safety.

Two high-profile cases illustrate the violence associated with the trend. Brusthom Ziamani and Baz Hockton, radicalised in jail, attacked Prison Officer Neil Trundle with a shank after luring him into a cupboard at HMP Whitemoor, Cambridgeshire, in 2020, shouting "Allahu Akbar" and wearing hoax suicide vests. In another case, Manchester Arena plotter Hashem Abedi is accused of attacking three prison officers with homemade weapons and hot cooking oil, though he has denied attempted murder.

Meanwhile, HMP Swaleside in Kent is said to have become overrun by Muslim gangs. Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor described Swaleside as filthy, with rampant drug use and a pervasive sense of despair, giving it the ‘worst scores’ in his five-year tenure. The Independent Monitoring Board has raised concerns about "religious gangs" at the facility, where a third of inmates are Muslim, noting violence and the "unchecked gang control" that many prisoners report feeling powerless against. The IMB described rival gang activity over drugs, racist comments, and discrimination against Jewish prisoners. Prisons Minister Lord Timpson responded that the inspection was deeply concerning and that an action plan to reduce violence and raise safety standards would be published in the coming weeks.

Officials emphasize that such violence endangers both inmates and staff and require coordinated responses, including enhanced monitoring, separation of high-risk inmates, and targeted intervention to prevent radicalisation. The public debate continues over how prisons should handle powerful gangs that exert coercive control while maintaining security and order.