Prevent too focused on far-Right, review says

BRITAIN’S counter-terrorism programme has focused too much on far-Right fanatics and should now crack down on Islamist extremism, a report has found.

An official review of Prevent – the Government’s flagship counter-extremism policy – has found there has been a ‘double standard when dealing with extreme Right-wing and Islamism’, according to leaked draft extracts.

There were more referrals to Prevent relating to far-Right extremism than to Islamist radicalisation for the first time last year.

The leaked extracts, seen by The Guardian yesterday, are also critical of Prevent-funded community groups and organisations, claiming some ‘have promoted extremist narratives, including statements that appear supportive of the Taliban’.

The review, being carried out by Sir William Shawcross, also said Prevent was ‘carrying the weight’ for overstretched mental health services.

In his draft findings Sir William, a former head of the Charity Commission, said Prevent’s first objective – to tackle the causes of radicalisation and respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism – ‘is not being sufficiently met’.

He is said to have finished the review, which was delivered to the Home Office at the end of April after long delays.

Sir Peter Fahy, former police lead for Prevent, said the review extracts suggested Sir William’s findings were an attempt to ‘politicise counterterrorism policing’.

‘There is a danger of policing thought as opposed to the risk of violence. It is not about ideology but about the risk someone will cross into violence,’ he told The Guardian. ‘It sounds to me quite dangerous to play off one ideology against another.’

The Home Office said the review will help it ‘improve our response’, adding: ‘Prevent remains a vital tool for early intervention and safeguarding.’