Judicial review of refusal to release prisoner linked to terrorism

Sonn Macmillan Walker represented our client X in a judicial review of a decision to restrict X's release from prison at the halfway point of his release. The President of the Queen's Bench Division and Holroyde LJ upheld the decision which was made on the grounds that there was a heightened terror threat from recently released prisoners.

Whilst in custody, X had linked with the perpetrator of the attack in Streatham and may have been practising an extreme form of Islam. 

The Court rejected X's submission that in the absence of a closed material procedure reliant on intelligence was not permissible, and found that the exceptional circumstances justified the decision to not release X. 

Richard Thomas KC and Daniel Clarke of Doughty Street Chambers were the barristers instructed on this case. Alex Whitmore was the solicitor with conduct of this case. 

Case reference: X v SSJ [2020] EWHC 800 (Admin)