The government’s flagship anti-terror strategy is so vague it leads to thousands of unnecessary referrals from teachers and healthcare professionals, according to a report.
The study found the categories of people who may be ‘vulnerable to extremism’ under the Prevent programme were ill defined and ‘lacked clear connections to violent radicalisation’.
They included ‘people with mental health issues or learning disabilities’, ‘young offenders and people vulnerable to offending’ and religious converts who were ‘less well-informed about their faith’.
The lack of clarity may explain the high number of Prevent referrals referred to the Channel phase which are not taken up. Of the 6,287 referrals made to Channel – in 2019-20, just 697 were taken up.
‘This suggests that Prevent is casting a very wide net, and may not be working as efficiently as it can,’ the report says.
A very small minority of referrals to the Prevent Channel phase – which is reserved for the most serious cases – are taken up as Channel cases
The most common sources of Prevent referrals are police officers and teachers
The scheme works by local council-appointed Prevent coordinators taking referrals from public servants like teachers and social workers, with each individual of concern categorised by their ideology.
Less serious cases are dealt with by councils, who can offer services like mentoring or parenting support, while the more serious ones go to Channel, where a panel of local officials, including police, will recommend the next steps.
Despite the report’s criticisms, the report found many of the attacks on the programme were misguided and relied largely on ‘speculation and unproven assumptions’ by scholars and ‘anti-Prevent activists’.
Many critics were motivated by a ‘conspiratorial view of both government and academic work on terrorism and counterterrorism’ and a belief that Prevent ‘criminalises’ Muslims, wrote its author, Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens.
He said polling suggests most Muslims had not heard of Prevent but supported its underlying premise, while university staff felt it was a ‘proportionate response’ to the terror threat – even if they were unsure of its focus on British values.
Suella Braverman, the home secretary, is believed to be planning a major overhaul of Prevent following the publication of the Shawcross Review, which scrutinises the programme and is expected to be released by the end of the year.
Six of the 11 most significant recent terror attacks were carried out by individuals who have gone through Prevent.
Suella Braverman, the home secretary, is believed to be planning a major overhaul of Prevent following the publication of the Shawcross Review, which scrutinises the programme and is expected to be released by the end of the year.
The MP Sir David Amess’s killer Ali Harbi Ali – who was sentenced last month to a whole life order – had been referred to the programme in 2014 but a year later it was concluded he no longer posed a threat.
Usman Khan, 28, who stabbed two young graduates to death after a prisoner rehabilitation event on London Bridge, had come into contact with Prevent officers who had ‘no specific training’ in handling terrorists, an inquest heard.
William Shawcross is scrutinising the programme and is expected to release his report by the end of the year
Another terrorist referred to Prevent was Sudesh Amman, who stabbed two people in Streatham, south London, in February 2019. However, a panel decided his case did not require intervention.
Meanwhile, Parsons Green bomber Ahmed Hassan was also referred to the anti-terror scheme 20 months before he planted a device on the Tube that injured 50 people during rush hour in 2017.
Earlier this year it emerged the number of military personnel referred to Prevent had doubled in a year amid fears the far right are actively targeting soldiers.
Freedom of Information Act disclosures show a total of 40 soldiers, air force personnel and sailors have been probed over extremist concerns since 2019.
Half of them were referred to Prevent over alleged extreme right-wing activity.
Four serving members of the army were arrested in 2017 under anti-terror laws on suspicion of being members of banned neo-Nazi group National Action.
The court heard Afghanistan veteran Lance Corporal Mikko Vehvilainen had been trying to recruit fellow soldiers for National Action to ‘cleanse our lands’.
Sickening bunting proudly displaying swastikas was found in his possession.
A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘We are committed to doing everything possible to protect our communities from the threat of terrorism and the UK has one of the most robust counter-terrorism frameworks in the world.
‘Prevent has changed and saved the lives of individuals from all walks of life, with over 3,000 people led away from radicalisation and supported through the programme.
Sir David Amess’s killer Ali Harbi Ali (left) and London Bridge attacker Usman Khan were both referred to Prevent
Original Article
