Prevent referral mechanism “unprepared” to deal with modern extremism

According to the Home Affairs Committee, Prevent remains the ‘go-to’ mechanism for dealing with individuals considered at risk, but is “outdated” and “inadequately prepared” to deal with modern extremism challenges in the digital world.

Extremist content in online spaces has created fast-evolving sub-cultures promoting antisemitism, misogyny and violence, in turn putting social cohesion at risk. The risk posed to children and young people is “acute”, but poor understanding of extremism is inhibiting the Government’s response.

The Home Affairs Committee is calling for a reset to the approach to dealing with extremism in order to establish an effective multi-agency strategy that can triage referrals to appropriate services. The evidence base underpinning decision-making is “poor” and needs to be improved “as a matter of urgency”.

Complex needs

Dame Karen Bradley, chair of the Home Affairs Committee, said: “Many of the core functions designed to divert children and young people at risk of being radicalised were established in a different age. Prevent has the clear and explicit function of stopping people from becoming radicalised into terrorism, but more and more it’s having to support those with no ideological motivation who may have complex needs and operate in digital spaces that are poorly understood.”

Dame Bradley continued: “There needs to be a comprehensive structure in place at a local level, but implemented nationwide, that triages referrals to where they can receive the right support.”

In conclusion, Dame Bradley noted: “We cannot have a siloed approach that sees one agency as responsible when it will require the joint efforts of the police, healthcare, education and local Government services to identify cases and then intervene.”