Vast majority of deradicalisation programmes ‘ineffective’
Damning Home Office report raises serious questions about flagship Prevent
The vast majority of deradicalisation programmes are ineffective and even counterproductive, a damning report commissioned by the Home Office has found.
Of the 33 government-funded programmes designed to safeguard vulnerable people from far-right and religious extremist threats which were analysed, only two were found to be effective, The Times reports.
The study by the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), identified failures in approach to deradicalisation in schools, youth centres, sports clubs and English-language classes.
Subscribe to 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.
Participants in the study felt their freedom of expression had been restricted and teachers would refuse to engage in topics over fears of bringing up matters of race and religion without appearing discriminatory.
The Daily Express says that until the “shock intervention” by BIT, many of these programmes had claimed a success rate of more than 90% “after self-evaluation”.
The Times says the findings “raise questions about the government’s Prevent programme”, its controversial flagship counter-extremism initiative.
The scheme, which was brought in after the 7/7 bombings to deal with threats from Islamist and far-right extremism, has since expanded to make it a statutory duty for schools, hospitals, prisons and local authorities to report concerns about those at risk of turning to extremism.
This has led to accusations the government is forcing teachers to spy on their pupils, doctors on patients, as well as effectively criminalising specific communities – which in turn drives them towards radicalisation.
The new Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, this week threw his support behind the programme as he unveiled the government’s revamped counter-terrorism strategy.
The shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, has called for Prevent to be reviewed, and claimed that it can be counterproductive; but Javid reaffirmed his commitment to the scheme saying “misapprehensions around Prevent are often based on distortions”.
Opacity and prejudice surrounding Prevent from both sides has so far shielded it from scrutiny, but the latest figures raise serious questions about its value.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
DOJ charges 2 in white nationalist 'Terrorgram' plot
Feds say Dallas Humber and Matthew Allison were plotting assassinations through a terrorist network on Telegram
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
What is the new definition of extremism?
Today's Big Question Michael Gove on a mission to 'push for more stringent measures to tackle extremism in the UK'
By The Week UK Published
-
The Red Army Faction: German fugitive arrested after decades on run
Why Everyone's Talking About Police reward and TV appeal leads to capture of Daniela Klette, now 65
By The Week UK Published
-
Attacking the grid
Speed Read Domestic terrorism targeting the U.S. electric grid is exposing dangerous vulnerabilities
By The Week Staff Published
-
Terror police probe uranium seized at Heathrow
Speed Read The radioactive substance was found during routine inspection of package flown into the airport
By Arion McNicoll Published
-
Manchester bombing report exposes ‘incompetence’
Speed Read Newly published findings of public inquiry into 2017 attack describe a litany of failures
By The Week Staff Published
-
The terrorism 'mastermind'
Speed Read Before he was killed in a U.S. drone strike, Ayman al-Zawahiri was one of the most wanted men in the world
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
What we know about the Copenhagen mall shooting
Speed Read Lone gunman had mental health issues and not thought to have terror motive, police say
By The Week Staff Published