‘Prevent may push students towards acts of terrorism’

THE UK’s counter-terrorism strategy could actually be pushing some students further towards terrorism, academics have said.

Prevent is a key part of the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy but has been accused of singling out some Muslim students.

Now a report from Durham University has found that some are being stigmatised by the strategy.

Some teachers have said they fear the Prevent strategy – which sees people with extreme views referred for an intervention – could be counter-productive and push people towards terrorism.

They raised concerns that those who are vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism could be more likely to go down that path due to the perceived scrutiny of some students, stoking feelings of being marginalised by state and society.

The Prevent strategy sees potential extremists reported to the scheme by teachers, police, mosques, social workers and other authorities.

The report co-author, Tufyal Choudhury, assistant Professor in the Law School at Durham University, said Prevent has placed staff in schools and colleges in England at the front line of the UK’s counter-terrorism policy.

He said: “While the report shows staff have engaged with and accepted the idea of Prevent as safeguarding, and many feel confident about implementing the duty, there remains widespread concern about increased stigmatisation of Muslim pupils.”