The Independent Review of Prevent: Controversial, Contentious and Counter-productive
| Published date | 01 June 2023 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/20419058231181290 |
| Author | Chris Allen |
| Date | 01 June 2023 |
JUNE 2023•POLITICAL INSIGHT33
In February this year, the findings from
the independent review of the United
Kingdom’s Prevent strategy were
presented to the government, two and
a half years later than expected. Prevent,
part of the UK’s wider counter-terrorism
strategy, aims to stop people being drawn
into or supporting the extremist ideologies
that underpin and justify terrorism. Led
by Sir William Shawcross, the review put
forward 34 recommendations to improve
the delivery, impact and outcomes of
Prevent. The review’s headline finding was
that Prevent had lost its way in recent years,
apparently because of being excessively
focused on those vulnerable to extreme
right-wing ideologies at the expense of
those vulnerable to Islamist ideologies.
Accordingly, the review recommended
that Prevent be refocused. The government
The Independent Review of Prevent:
Controversial, Contentious
and Counter-productive
Since its launch in 2007, the UK’s Prevent counter-extremism
strategy has often sparked controversy. Chris Allen examines the
recent independent review of Prevent and argues that it perpetuates
Prevent’s focus on Muslims to the exclusion of other terrorist threats.
concurred: Home Secretary Suella
Braverman immediately announced that all
Shawcross’s 34 recommendations would be
‘swiftly implemented’ and reported back on
within a year.
The government’s response was, however,
somewhat anomalous. The report was
widely criticised. Amnesty International UK,
the Runnymede Trust and other third sector
organisations expressed dismay at the scant
attention the review aorded the many
criticisms that have dogged Prevent since its
inception a decade and a half ago. Principal
among these criticisms is the allegation that
far from focusing too much on right-wing
extremists, Prevent has disproportionately
© Thabo Jaiyesimi / Alamy Stock Photo
Political Insight June 2023.indd 33Political Insight June 2023.indd 3318/05/2023 14:5818/05/2023 14:58
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