Following a long-running campaign by the Labour frontbench, the
Government has conceded to subject the Prevent process to an
independent review. The 2017 Manifesto promised to “review
the Prevent programme with a view to assessing both its
effectiveness and its potential to alienate minority
communities”.
The House of Lords inserted an amendment into the Bill for an
independent review to be set up within six months on 17 December
2018. In the House of Commons during the Consideration of the
Lords Amendments to the Counter Terrorism and Border Security
Bill, Security Minister stated that given that the
post-legislative review of the Prevent programme is due in
early 2020, this is now the time to review
Prevent, its operation and its effectiveness.
MP, Shadow Minister
for Security, responding to the recent
announcement for an independent review,
said:
“Prevent is supposed to keep our people safe, yet it isn’t
working. While nobody can question the commitment of those who
work to try and deliver the policy on the frontline since it
became statutory duty – we know from ground-level reports,
Prevent is causing a massive strain and rift with key
stakeholders and is often dubbed draconian.
“This review is surely an acceptance that many have lost faith in
Prevent: various communities, academics and senior officials have
all criticised the government for its poor implementation of the
strategy.
“The aims of safeguarding, gathering information, and community
cohesion have not always sat easily together. Nor can we
expect local services, continually cut back by Tory austerity, to
deliver the welfare community facilities we need without
appropriate funding. It is now crucial that this review is
wide-ranging and robust.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
