Prisoners are converting to Islam to win benefits and gain the protection of powerful Muslim gangs inside jails, the Chief Inspector of Prisons has warned.

Up to a third of Muslim prisoners adopted the religion while serving their sentence, a new report by inspectors has found.

Inmates say their reasons for converting include the protection of belonging to a gang and perceived material perks offered to Muslims.

Many converts, known as 'convenience Muslims', admitted they changed faiths because as a Muslim they were entitled to more time outside of their cells and offered better food.
Muslim prisoners are also excluded from work and education on Fridays so they can attend prayers.

Staff at one high security prison said non-Muslims were pressured into converting and adopting a 'strict' form of Islam.

Chief Inspector Dame Anne Owers also warned of the need for greater engagement with Muslim prisoners to prevent them turning to extremism.

Her report said attempts to crack down on Muslim fanatics in jail are pushing inmates into the arms of extremists, claiming prison staff treat all Muslims - including converts - as if they could pose a security threat.

But this 'blanket approach' risks turning moderates into radicals.

There are 10,300 Muslim prisoners in jails in England and Wales. The number has increased fourfold since 1994.

Less than 1 per cent are behind bars for terror-related offences. Those who are include radical preacher Abu Hamza, who is awaiting extradition to the U.S.

Last year he was accused of delivering extremist sermons to fellow prisoners through the water pipes in his cell in Belmarsh, South East London.

Miss Owers said prison officers need to focus on individual prisoners instead of treating them all alike.

'Without that there is a real risk of a self-fulfiling prophecy: that the prison experience will create or entrench alienation and disaffection, so that prisons release into the community young men who are more likely to offend, or even embrace extremism,' she said.

But Phil Wheatley, director general of the National Offender Management Service said: 'It is not right to say that NOMS has a blanket security-led approach to Muslim prisoners.

'Our clear policy is that all prisoners are treated with respect and decency and that the legitimate practice of faith in prison is supported.'