Muslim offenders are being visited regularly in jails by teachers in an effort to prevent them developing extremist Islamist views.

The move is aimed particularly at young prisoners who are vulnerable to being targeted by extremists when they are released from jails.

Anne Owers, the chief inspector of prisons, discloses the latest efforts to counter the radicalisation of young Muslims prisoners in an inspection report published today.

But she gives warning that the inmates at Highpoint jail could receive conflicting messages because of the lack of contact between the teachers and the imam at the prison. Her report on an inspection of the jail near Newmarket in Suffolk said: “A small group of Muslim prisoners were visited weekly by Muslim teachers from a London based group with the aim of preventing the development of extremist views but there was little liaison with the well regarded Muslim chaplain to prevent the possibility of conflicting messages”.

The prison service admitted that similar visits are taking place at a number of other jails in England and Wales and are focused on ensuring offenders are not “talent scouted” by extremists when they leave prison.

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