Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what terrorist-related offences were committed by which prisoners released from prison in 2013 and 2014; what the length of each sentence given to each such prisoner was; and how long was served in each such case.

The information provided below relates to prisoners convicted of or on remand for a Terrorism Act offence, or of an offence that was terrorism-related where the motivation stemmed from an extreme ideology.

Of the 120 prisoners in this category released from prison custody for various reasons in 2013 and 2014, the offences ranged from removal of a tag through to murder. The sentences served by these prisoners ranged from 1 month through to life imprisonment. In all cases the prisoner served the appropriate length of time set out in the sentencing legislation which applied at the time of sentencing.

In the case of the life sentence prisoners release would have been approved by the Parole Board. The Parole Board will not release an offender unless they are convinced that the offender’s risk can be safely managed in the community.

Reasons for release include those who had reached the end of sentence, those deported or extradited, and those bailed or discharged.