Prevent is one of four limbs of the government’s anti-terrorism policy. It is directed at behaviours and ideas that the government deems to be extreme and to represent a possible ‘gateway’ to violent offences. The Prevent duty applies in schools, colleges and universities and many other public spaces. It professes to safeguard individuals and funnel those at risk to programmes/interventions of de-radicalisation. In light of the Government’s upcoming Independent Review under William Shawcross, many have voiced opposition to this policy, arguing that Prevent entails marginalisation, racism and problematises certain ‘communities’ that are perceived as being against ‘British Values’. Today I am joined by Prof John Holmwood and Dr Gavin Bailey, who are both counter terrorism experts as we discuss the future of prevent, it’s criticisms and the recently published People’s Review of Prevent. We also talk about John’s book (together with Therese O’Toole) on the Birmingham Trojan Horse affair and the problems of intervening in a pre-criminal space with the most vulnerable in our society.

The report can be found here:

https://peoplesreviewofprevent.org/

John’s book can be found here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Countering-Extremism-British-Schools-Birmingham-ebook/dp/B0772TGVN2