Quakers and partners criticise Prevent review findings
The government has published the findings of an 'independent' review of Prevent, its counter-terrorism programme.
Quakers responded to the review inquiry in December 2019, criticising the programme for failing to tackle the root causes of violence, stifling dissent, and contributing to racism and Islamophobia. Read our submission (PDF).
After a rocky review process lasting three years, the government has now published the findings and promised to implement all 34 recommendations.
Quakers and their partners in the Community Counter to Prevent believe the report draws the wrong conclusions and bolsters the most damaging aspects of the programme.
The suggestion that the Prevent duty "works well" and is "especially effective in schools" ignores the harmful impact on those who are referred, nearly half of whom are children under the age of 18.
The review ignores evidence that Prevent is discriminatory and anti-democratic, and recommends an even greater emphasis on those who are already most severely impacted, particularly Muslims. The recommendation to extend the duty to other sectors will only broaden its damaging effect.
Quakers will continue to campaign for the government to tackle inequality and injustice as root causes of violent behaviour rather than centring policing and surveillance.