UK prisons face allegations of Muslim gang-driven forced conversions and rising jihadist influence

Recent reports allege that Islamist inmate gangs are forcing fellow prisoners, especially white British men, to convert to Islam in several UK prisons, presenting conversion as a means of protection. Conservative shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy has called on the Labour government to investigate and halt the practice, citing data that one in five Muslim prisoners are white. The Ministry of Justice responded that most prisons show no evidence of gang-based extremism and highlighted bans on terrorist inmates holding religious authority.

Analysts including Nile Gardiner of the Heritage Foundation and reviewer Colin Bloom warned that prisons are becoming de-facto jihadist training camps, posing a security risk. A 2022 one outlet's review by Jonathan Hall documented extremist influence, recruitment and coercive conversions within the prison system. Officials say they are improving detection and disruption of extremist gang activity through enhanced training and data collection.