Thousands of radical extremists must be locked up in new internment camps to protect Britain from the unprecedented terror threat it faces, a Muslim former police chief declares today.

Writing exclusively for The Mail on Sunday, Tarique Ghaffur warns there are too many extremists on the streets for police and MI5 officers to monitor.

Mr Ghaffur, an Assistant Commissioner at Scotland Yard when the 7/7 bombings took place, proposes that special centres be set up to detain as many as 3,000 extremists, where they can be kept from launching attacks.

They would also be made to go through a de-radicalisation programme.

Thousands of radical extremists must be locked up in new internment camps to protect Britain, a Muslim former police chief declares today (file photo of the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland, built on the site of the Long Kesh internment camp)

Tarique Ghaffur warns there are too many extremists on the streets for police and MI5 officers to monitor (file photo of a prisoner at in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba)

Mr Ghaffur (pictured) believes the idea would work for extremists if the camps were approved by imams, whom he believes should also issue a 'fatwa' condemning atrocities

He admits that the internment of IRA members in Northern Ireland during the 1970s led to a violent backlash and hunger strikes.

But Mr Ghaffur believes the idea would work for extremists if the camps were approved by imams, whom he believes should also issue a 'fatwa' condemning atrocities such as the suicide bombing in Manchester that left 22 dead.

He says: 'Let us have a proper national debate about this, and not be afraid to speak openly for fear of offending any communities, or for the sake of political correctness.'

Internment was introduced in Northern Ireland in 1971 in an attempt to quell the rising violence, and over four years almost 2,000 alleged paramilitaries were held without trial in makeshift camps.

But it led to an upsurge in bloodshed as well as political protests, and was later abandoned.

However, Mr Ghaffur, once Britain's most senior Asian officer, says that it is needed now to deal with the growing number of dangerous extremists in the country, more than 400 of whom have fought for Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

Mr Ghaffur, an Assistant Commissioner at Scotland Yard when the 7/7 bombings took place, proposes that special centres be set up to detain as many as 3,000 extremists (file photo of the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland, built on the site of the Long Kesh internment camp)

Yesterday it emerged that MI5 has identified 23,000 jihadis in the UK in recent years, of whom 3,000 are still considered a threat.

Locking up terror suspects with no trial Locking up terror suspects without trial has been discussed by Government, it has emerged. The plan would be to lock them up in internment camps if the situation worsens in the UK. Currently, the police can hold you for up to 24 hours before they have to charge you with a crime or release you. They can apply to hold you for up to 36 or 96 hours if you’re suspected of a serious crime like murder. You can be held without charge for up to 14 days If you’re arrested under the Terrorism Act. Advertisement

He writes: 'We face an unprecedented terrorist threat – about 3,000 extremists are subjects of interest to MI5 and police, and about 500 plots are being monitored. The numbers are way too many for the security services and police to monitor.'

Mr Ghaffur says that the solution is to set up special centres where the 3,000 or so extremists can be detained.

Locking up terror suspects without trial has been discussed by Government, it has emerged.

The plan would be to lock them up in internment camps if the situation worsens in the UK.

'These would be community-based centres where the extremists would be risk-assessed. Then the extremists would be made to go through a deradicalisation programme, using the expertise of imams, charity workers and counter- terrorism officers.'

Mr Ghaffur adds: 'These centres would have oversight from vetted Muslim and other community leaders, who would ensure they stayed within the law.'

Internment for jihadis was also proposed last week by Colonel Richard Kemp, the former British Army commander in Afghanistan. However, former Scotland Yard Commissioner Lord Blair said it would be 'counter-productive' as it would anger the Muslim community, whose co-operation is needed to root out terrorists.

Yesterday it emerged that MI5 has identified 23,000 jihadis in the UK in recent years, of whom 3,000 are still considered a threat (file photo of the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland, built on the site of the Long Kesh internment camp)

Mr Ghaffur says that the solution is to set up special centres where the 3,000 or so extremists can be detained (file photo of the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland, built on the site of the Long Kesh internment camp)

And former Security Minister Lord West warned: 'Internment would be bad for our standing in the world, and also our position would not be good in fighting terrorists. Like as in war, we have to be whiter than white, and so we would not look good against the terrorists we are fighting.

Secondly, I don't think it will work at a practical level, as I don't want these extremely dangerous, drug-taking jihadis put in the same place as more vulnerable ones.' Lord Carlile, former terror law watchdog, added: 'Internment camps would not be lawful, and would not work.

'They did not work in Northern Ireland, and even during World War Two, when there was internment, Churchill said he found it extremely distasteful, and that's when we faced a real threat of invasion.'

Imams must issue a fatwa against Muslim radicals, says ex-Met Police chief who was in charge during 7/7

By Tarique Ghaffur, Former Met Police Chief, For The Mail On Sunday

Ex-Met chief Tarique Ghaffur has called for internment camps for the 3,000 extremists wandering Britain's streets

Like millions of others, I was left horrified by the barbaric Manchester attack. My heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones and to those who were injured.

As an Asian Mancunian, I felt appalled beyond words. My own children could have been among those killed in the UK's worst atrocity since 7/7.

I was heartbroken but I was not surprised.

As one of the Met's most senior officers, having seen classified intelligence, I knew more than most about the jihadi threat facing Britain. As security co-ordinator of the 2012 Olympics, I knew public events were soft targets.

I always felt it was a matter of when, not if. Last Monday, my worst fears were realised.

We face an unprecedented terrorist threat in Britain – about 3,000 extremists are subjects of interest to MI5 and police, and about 500 plots are being monitored.

Add more than 400 jihadis who have returned from Syria and you realise the numbers are way too many for the security services and police to monitor. The atrocities of Manchester and Westminster have shown that ordinary surveillance, monitoring and tagging are not working.

The time has come to set up special centres to detain these 3,000 extremists.

These would be community-based centres where they would be risk-assessed and theologically examined.

Mr Ghaffur says the 'internment camps' would be community-based centres where extremists would be risk-assessed and theologically examined. Pictured: The aftermath of the Manchester Arena suicide bomb

Then the extremists would be made to go through a deradicalisation programme, using the expertise of imams, charity workers and counter-terrorism officers. Those who can be deradicalised should be carefully allowed back into the community. But those deemed too dangerous should be locked up.

These centres would have oversight from vetted Muslim and other community leaders, who would ensure they stayed within the law.

There is some precedent for these centres. At the height of the Troubles, internment camps were set up for 2,000 deemed extremists. I know those camps led to hunger strikes, but the centres I'm proposing would be different as they would have backing from Muslim leaders.

I would like imams to issue a collective fatwa, condemning terrorist atrocities and giving religious backing to the new centres for the good of society. With their support, the centres would not be seen as a 'tool of the state'.

This would also show that Muslim leaders are doing something to make the UK safe and not just delivering words.

I know many will oppose these centres as oppressive. But the threat we face from terrorism is unprecedented and if we do not take bold steps now we will not be able to prevent future attacks.

MI5 has identified 23,000 jihadis in the UK in recent years, of whom 3,000 are still considered a threat (file photo of the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland, built on the site of the Long Kesh internment camp)

As a further solution, the Government should overhaul the entire asylum system.

In the 1980s and 1990s, hundreds of asylum seekers came in, claiming they were fleeing persecution. We had no way of seeing if they were genuine, or hate clerics lying to get in. Many extremists who came in never integrated.

Extremist asylum seekers need to be re-vetted, and if they are deemed a threat they should be kicked out. The Home Office should set up a 'cold cases' review team to re-examine all asylum seekers.

We have never faced a terrorism threat like this. So let us have a proper national debate and not be afraid to speak openly for fear of offending any communities, or for the sake of political correctness.

Facebook's cut-price hate video 'police': Social media giant pays young Filipinos £1.81 an hour to assess and remove terror-related material from the site

They are the army of workers who man Facebook's front line, tasked with removing offensive and terror-related material from the internet giant's site.

But a Mail on Sunday investigation has discovered the multi-billion pound social networking site employs hundreds of young Filipinos – some with limited English skills – who work gruelling shifts and say they earn just £1.81 an hour.

They are forced to decide in seconds whether or not to delete videos, pictures and posts which are too graphic or violent.

Staff face being sacked if they fail to meet strict quotas that mean they have to assess hundreds of extreme posts every shift.

Facebook, which recorded profits of more than £4.7 billion in 2015, has come under fire for giving a platform to terrorists to spread their hateful propaganda.

Facebook employs hundreds of young Filipinos - some with limited English skills - to remove offensive and terror related material from the site

Last week, Theresa May demanded a crackdown on social media giants that refuse to co-operate on terror.

In the wake of the Manchester attack, handbooks imploring extremists to target concerts were found on the internet.

The army of moderators are part of Facebook's community standards team whose job is to police the site.

Users can report posts which break Facebook's rules because they promote terrorist activity or contain sexually explicit material.

Earlier this month, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg boasted that the firm – worth £345 billion – would be adding another 3,000 workers to the 4,500 moderators it already employs and pledged to 'improve the process for doing it quickly'.

The MoS found that Facebook outsources some its moderating work to staff in the Philippines employed through multinational professional services firm Accenture.

Many staff last less than 18 months in the stressful jobs, which see graduates from conservative, devoutly Catholic backgrounds exposed to endless streams of graphic images.

The young Filipinos, paid just £1.81 an hour, are forced to decide in seconds whether or not to delete videos, pictures and posts which are too graphic or violent

Five employees interviewed by the MoS said moderators at Accenture's Manila office earned starting monthly salaries of 24,000 pesos (£376) for a six-day week of eight-hour shifts.

It means they earn the equivalent of £1.81 an hour. After five months, salaries are said to increase to 29,000 pesos, the equivalent of £2.19 an hour.

One ex-manager who helped recruit Facebook moderators said staff were often traumatised by material.

'The moderators have to check posts that have been flagged up and make a snap judgement on whether they should be taken down.

'They can't spend more than a few seconds thinking about it. They have to fulfil a quota and if they're too slow they won't last in the job.'

Last night, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: 'In the wake of the Manchester attack, the public will simply not accept hugely profitable multinational companies failing to do their bit to keep the public safe.'

Accenture disputed the salary figures but failed to provide any alternative information. It said: 'We hire college graduates, experienced hires, provide intensive training and pay competitive wages.'

In the wake of the Manchester attack, handbooks imploring extremists to target concerts were found on the internet. Pictured: A sickening video purporting to show a jihadist celebrating the Manchester terror attack

Facebook said: 'We've built a global network of operations centres to work 24/7 so that we have people in the right country with the right language and cultural skills to review reports.

'We recognise this work can be difficult, which is why our contracts with partners stipulate that wellness and psychological support must be provided.

'We will be reviewing the services provided by Accenture to ensure they meet our standards.'