Скачать или смотреть Terror deradicalisation often 'a forlorn hope': Former NSW judge

Former NSW Supreme Court judge Anthony Whealy says worldwide evidence has shown it is often a "forlorn hope" to deradicalise convicted terrorists.

The comments come as counter-terrorism police are preparing to use controversial new powers, including continuing detention orders, to prevent the release of those deemed dangerous to society.

Those could include some of the 11 convicted terrorists due to be released in 2020.

Judge Whealy told Sky News that despite best efforts, it is difficult to change the ideology of religious fanatics .

“When you sentence somebody to prison, particularly for [terror-related] offences, you hope that they will be reformed and rehabilitated, and deradicalised”.

“There is always the fear that when their sentence is coming to an end… that they may in fact, in an extreme case, pose an unacceptable risk to the community,” he said.

This is a religious condition of a fanatical kind...is very different from the ordinary criminal”.

“It is hard for these people to be changed or altered.”

Image: Getty