THE first details have emerged about life and conditions in a specialist unit for extremist prisoners.

A report on the separation centre at HMP Frankland in Durham described it as a "microcosm" of a normal jail.

In its annual report, the prison's Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) praised managers and staff for the "successful delivery" of the facility.

But the assessment found that the "compact nature" of the centre gives rise to a "claustrophobic feeling" and called for a guideline population ceiling to be lowered.

Ministers unveiled plans to set up three specialist facilities to isolate the most "subversive" individuals as part of efforts to clamp down on radicalisation behind bars last year.

Moves to establish three "jails within jails" gathered pace after a review warned that Islamist extremism was a growing problem in prisons in England and Wales.

The separation unit at Frankland was the first to open, receiving its "initial cohort" of prisoners in June.

"Prisoners held here enjoy a full regime with the exception of any association with prisoners outside the unit," the IMB report said.

"All the staff employed in the unit have received high quality special training and have embraced the challenges in what, for them and the prisoners alike, is a totally new and different environment."

All inmates admitted to the centre were selected following a "comprehensive and focused" process.

Prisoners work with psychologists, probation and religious leaders, who contribute to a quarterly progress review.

The assessment, which did not detail the numbers or identities of those placed in the unit, said it is "basically a microcosm of a normal prison, with all the facilities and elements, including a kitchen to prepare and cook meals".

There are work and recreational areas, and "full access" to religious activities and discussions.

The report said: "The compact nature of the centre does give rise to a claustrophobic feeling and whilst there is a guideline population ceiling, the board have serious reservations and feel that this should be reduced in the interests of safe and harmonious living for the prisoners and staff."

Acknowledging that the centre was the first, and developed under both time and budgetary pressures, the board added that management and staff "deserve a great deal of credit for the successful delivery of a fully functioning unit".

The report said: "It will be significantly easier to deliver the further planned units in other jails, following the pioneering work at Frankland and the early lessons learned."

Earlier this month it emerged that 700 prisoners have been identified as a potential extremism risk across the jail estate.

The figure is an overall estimate of all inmates linked to any form of extremism, including Islamist or far-right ideologies.

Prisoners can be moved to the specialist units if they are linked to terror plotting or considered to pose a risk to national security.

Those seeking to influence others to commit terrorist crimes, or whose extremist views are undermining good order and security behind bars can also be taken out of the mainstream population.

The Government has confirmed that the second centre will be based at HMP Full Sutton in Yorkshire, with a third due to be in operation by the end of the year.

The three sites, set up to tackle all forms of extremism, will hold up to 28 individuals combined.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "Extremism has no place in British society, and separation centres form a significant part of our efforts to deal with this threat in our prison system.

"This report rightly commends staff at HMP Frankland for helping to ensure the effective running of the pioneering separation centre at the prison."