Streatham attack: Boris Johnson racing against time to push anti-terror laws through parliament with offender due to be released within weeks

New law will prevent automatic release of terror offenders after serving half their sentence

Emergency legislation to prevent a repeat of the Streatham terror attack must complete its passage through parliament by 27 February in order to prevent the automatic release of an offender thought to pose a risk to the public.

The new law will be introduced in the Commons on Tuesday and is expected to clear the Lower House by recess on 13 February, but it must then go through all stages in the House of Lords in just three days to meet the timetable.

The schedule will put pressure on peers to rush the legislation through and may spark protests over the need for scrutiny of measures that will retrospectively remove the right to automatic early release after half a sentence is served.

The timetable represents a delay to the schedule announced on Monday by the justice secretary, Robert Buckland, who said then that he hoped to introduce the bill this week and complete all stages by recess.

Sudesh Amman was freed from jail under automatic early release just days before he stabbed two people in Streatham, south London, in a terror attack that ended with him being shot dead by police.

The emergency legislation will ensure that terror offenders are considered for release only after serving two-thirds of their sentence and will be required to serve their full term if the parole board deems them a threat to the public.

The offender in question is reported to be Sunderland shopkeeper Mohammed Zahir Khan, who was jailed for four-and-a-half years in May 2018 for posting messages and material that was supportive of IS on social media.

The father-of-one, originally from Birmingham, had served long sentences in the past for drugs supply offences and moved to the north east to make a break from gangs.

A further five terror offenders are understood to be due for automatic release on reaching halfway through their terms during March.

The new legislation will begin its process through the Lords on 25 February on parliament’s return from its half-term break, and complete all stages by 27 February.

“There are no terrorist offenders who are due to receive automatic release before that date,” a Whitehall official said.

Sudesh Amman (PA)

“If the legislation is passed by 27 February, we can prevent the automatic release of any further terrorist suspects who might pose a threat to the public.

“This is emergency legislation which we believe is vital for protecting the public, and we are sure the Lords will wish to carry out its scrutiny quickly, allowing royal assent by 27 February.

“We cannot continue to be in a position where the state has no power to block the release of terrorists who continue to pose a threat to the public.”