Anti-terror police have been running a secret database including thousands of people referred to the government’s anti-radicalisation Prevent programme, according to human rights group Liberty.
Leaked documents show that the National Police Prevent Case Management database is accessible to all police forces across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the Home Office is able to request data from it.
Freedom of Information requests show that each referral to Prevent is added to the database by individual police forces, including personal details and reasons for the referral. The subject of the referral is not notified.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Gracie Bradley, policy and campaigns manager at Liberty, said: “This secret database isn’t about keeping us safe. It’s about keeping tabs on and controlling people – particularly minority communities and political activists.”
She added that she finds it “utterly chilling” that “potentially thousands of people, including children”, are on a secret government database “because of what they’re perceived to think or believe”.
Harun Khan, of the Muslim Council of Britain, said the news of the database is “deeply worrying,” particularly given its secrecy.
He added: “This database – over and above being a hugely authoritarian tool” and will “disproportionately affect Muslims”.
Prevent has proven to be a controversial initiative. A voluntary programme, it is designed to divert people from radicalisation before they offend and deals with individuals who have not committed any crime.
The Guardian says Prevent has faced “years of accusations” that it has “become a toxic brand that disproportionately [targets] Muslims”.
A National Police Chiefs’ Council spokesman said: “The public would expect the police to maintain professional records of those individuals referred for support as potential victims of radicalisation.”
He claimed that “good records ensure we are accountable, allow us to understand when vulnerabilities are increasing, and ensure we act consistently and proportionately, only taking action in those cases where our support is necessary”.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues for £6–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
-
Home Depots are the new epicenters of ICE raidsIn the Spotlight The chain has not provided many comments on the ongoing raids
-
Why does Trump keep interfering in the NYC mayoral race?Today's Big Question The president has seemingly taken an outsized interest in his hometown elections, but are his efforts to block Zohran Mamdani about political expediency or something deeper?
-
The pros and cons of banning cellphones in classroomsPros and cons The devices could be major distractions
-
Dash: the UK's 'flawed' domestic violence toolThe Explainer Risk-assessment checklist relied on by police and social services deemed unfit for frontline use
-
The ethics behind facial recognition vans and policingThe Explainer The government is rolling out more live facial recognition technology across England
-
The Miami Showband massacre, 50 years onThe Explainer Unanswered questions remain over Troubles terror attack that killed three members of one of Ireland's most popular music acts
-
The failed bombings of 21/7The Explainer The unsuccessful attacks 'unnerved' London and led to a tragic mistake
-
Bombing of fertility clinic blamed on 'antinatalist'speed read A car bombing injured four people and damaged a fertility clinic and nearby buildings in Palm Springs, California
-
Suspect charged after 11 die in Vancouver car attackSpeed Read Kai-Ji Adam Lo drove an SUV into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day festival
-
The Met police's stop and search overhaulThe Explainer More than 8,500 Londoners have helped put together a new charter for the controversial practice
-
How should we define extremism and terrorism?Today's Big Question The government has faced calls to expand the definition of terrorism in the wake of Southport murders
