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Prisoners moved out of high security units

Conditions Eased for Jailed IRA Men

The Prison Service has downgraded the security status of thirteen inmates convicted of, or charged with, terrorist offences.

The men have been moved from special units, often known as prisons within prisons, into ordinary cells in high security jails.

It comes a month after the renewal of the IRA ceasefire and has been welcomed by Sinn Fein as a confidence-building measure ahead of next month's substantive talks on Northern Ireland at which republicans will be present for the first time.

But the Unionists have accused the Government of being weak on terrorists. "The IRA prisoners in England today will be penning letters of thanks to Home Secretary Jack Straw," said Ian Paisley Jnr, the Democratic Unionist Party's justice spokesman.

"This status downgrade will have a detrimental impact on the prison regime. It will weaken the structure and control exercised over some of the most dangerous terrorist criminals in Europe," he said.

prisoners
Relaxed conditions in regular prisons

"The downgrade shows clearly that Labour is weak on terrorists and on the causes of terrorism," added Mr Paisley.

His comments were echoed by the Ulster Unionists, with the party's deputy leader, John Taylor, describing the move as "reckless".

"I do believe the government is beginning to act recklessly and seem not to be taking the advice of the police on issues of security because it seems to me that the police on both sides of the border remain concerned that there will be a return to IRA violence," he said

paisley
Paisley Jnr: Labour weak on terrorism

Better Conditions for Prisoners

The status of top security prisoners is constantly being reviewed, but this is the first time such a large number have been re-classified. Such moves are always based on intelligence and police advice on the risk individuals pose.

"The decision to re-classify their security status is entirely operational and was taken by the Prison Service's director of dispersals, Phil Wheatley," said a Prison Service statement.

"The move is based on a reduction in security risk and follows thorough assessment by the Prison Service in consultation with the police," continued the statement.

All 13 have had their security classifications changed from category A, exceptional risk to category A, high risk. One other non-terrorist prisoner has also been reclassified.

The decision means they will be held in high security wings, although in less restricted conditions than in the prisons at Belmarsh in south east London, Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire and Full Sutton at York.

It will also mean that they will be allowed "open" visits under close supervision. In high security jails, all visits are "closed" with inmates separated from their visitors by a pane of glass preventing any physical contact.

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