At the beginning of the year, the government announced an assessment and review of Prevent, the United Kingdom’s innovative counter-extremism strategy.
Prevent is a component of Contest — an integrated and sophisticated response to the deadly threat that terrorism presents to the citizens of this country. The review is to be welcomed. Where considerations which impinge on both public safety and civil liberties are impacted, it is vital that the correct balance is struck.
The government has prudently appointed the former Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, Lord Carlile, as the new Independent Reviewer of Prevent. His professional reputation, combined with his unsurpassed experience, will ensure that the programme is appropriately fine-tuned.
In the 16 years of its existence, a spectacular level of disinformation has been disseminated about Prevent, much of it quite cynical in nature. Some emanates from organisations which are motivated less by a sincere concern for liberty and rather more by their support for Islamist politics. [The JC] Read more
