Anti-terrorist programme Prevent ‘outdated and inadequately prepared’, report finds

The government’s anti-terrorism programme, Prevent, is “outdated and inadequately prepared” to deal with modern challenges such as extremists adhering to no particular ideology, an influential cross-party group of MPs has concluded.The home affairs select committee has called for a reset to the approach for dealing with fast-evolving online subcultures promoting antisemitism, anti-Muslim hostility, misogyny and violence, as well as an over-representation of neurodiverse people and those with mental health conditions.A report released on Wednesday said ministers should veer away from “a counter-terror mindset” and instead establish a multi-agency strategy to triage referrals to appropriate services.The report follows concerns that the £40m programme, which forms a key part of the UK’s counter-terror strategy, has failed to escalate concerns about individuals involved in recent extremist attacks.A review last year into Prevent and the Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana found the scheme “prematurely” closed its case into him due to there being no evidence that he had a fixed ideology or motivation.A separate Prevent learning review found that Ali Harbi Ali, who murdered Southend West MP Sir David Amess at a constituency surgery in October 2021, was dropped from the scheme too quickly.Karen Bradley, the Conservative chair of the committee, said: “Many of the core functions designed to divert children and young people at risk of being radicalised were established in a different age.“Prevent has the clear and explicit function of stopping people becoming radicalised into terrorism, but more and more it is having to support those with no ideological motivation, who may have complex needs and operate in digital spaces that are poorly understood.“There needs to be a comprehensive structure in place at a local level, but implemented nationwide, that triages referrals to where they can receive the right support.”The report said that extremism is driven by algorithms that maximise engagement and profits. “Now driven by AI, the speed and scale at which content is created has outpaced the ability to moderate and remove it. Smaller platforms lack sufficient regulatory scrutiny and have become hotbeds for the growth of extremism,” it said.MPs said there is a lack of clarity and direction from government in dealing with extremism outside the established mechanisms intended for counter-terrorism.“Prevent remains the go-to mechanism for dealing with individuals considered at risk, but is outdated and inadequately prepared to deal with modern extremism challenges … it is increasingly required to support individuals without ideology or who are neurodiverse,” the report said.The Home Office has also allowed Prevent to drift outside its remit, the committee said.“Prevent should have a clearly defined role within the wider safeguarding and violence-reduction system that can better identify which services are best placed to support the specific needs of those referred to it,” the report said.Trends identified by the 62-page report include: A growing prevalence of under-18s being drawn into extremism. Neurodiverse individuals, particularly those with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, being over-represented among referrals to the programme. Fluid or hybrid ideological beliefs among those referred and a shift toward nihilistic violence. Influencers and creative tools such as memes, humour and coded messaging being used to spread extremist content in a way that is accessible and appealing. Generative AI being used to produce large volumes of tailored content and disinformation. An increase in hate crimes and incidents in the UK that are linked to anti-blasphemy activism, anti-Israel extremism, anti-Muslim hostility and eco-extremism. A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are delivering a fundamental reset in how we approach countering extremism so we can keep the public safe.“This includes expanding our visa taskforce to stop foreign extremists from ever setting foot on UK soil, bolstering our disruption capability to dismantle extremist networks nationwide and publishing more information to arm frontline staff with the tools needed to tackle extremism.”