Prevent a positive – or a toxic intrusion?

AS it was claimed hundreds of suspected extremists in the North East have been referred to the Prevent anti-terrorism programme, we look at what the scheme involves and its main criticisms.

What is the prevent strategy?

The Prevent strategy is part of the Home Office’s counter-terrorism work.

The scheme aims to challenge the ideology that supports terrorism and those who promote it by working with and within communities communities to identify potential extremists.

How does it work?

People make referrals about members of the community they are concerned about to specially trained Prevent police officers.

Officers can then look to intervene in a number of ways, including by introducing a ‘channel intervention provider’ to the person who concerns have been raised about.

The scheme is voluntary and both parties must agree to then enter discussions.

An intervention provider will then try to build a relationship and a dialogue to discuss and attempt to alter the radical views of the person in question. The majority of referrals come from teachers, social workers and mosques.

When was it started?

The scheme began as a Home Office pilot back in 2007 in two police forces.

It was expanded again in 2008 and again in 2009 and now operates across England and Wales.

How many extremists has it dealt with?

Figures published by the National Police Chiefs Council are out of date, although the North East’s only intervention provider estimates there could have been around 3,000 referrals over the last year.

Anecdotally, he said he thinks there were more than a hundred referrals in the North East over the past year. However, less than a dozen required any form on intervention.

National Police Chiefs Council published figures: 2006/07 – 5 2007/08 – 75 2008/09 – 179 2009/10 – 467 2010/11 – 599 2011/12 – 580 2012/13 – 748 2013/14 – 1281

Why is the Prevent strategy controversial?

The scheme has come in for criticism in recent weeks. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham described it as “toxic” and called for it to be scrapped.

The main criticisms are that is unfairly targets Muslims and creates a feeling people are being spied on, often within their own communities.

Mr Burnham went as far as to say: “It is building a climate of mutual suspicion and distrust. Far from tackling extremism, it risks creating the very conditions for it to flourish.”

The National Police Chiefs Council has said that more than 50% of referrals relate to Islamic extremists.

On its website, it states: “The greatest threat the UK currently faces is from terrorists who claim to act in the name of Islam, and who specifically target Muslims. Therefore Prevent activity such as the support offered through channel predominately takes place in and with Muslim communities.”