Policy Hub
On 30 March 2010, the House of Commons Communities and Local Government (CLG) Committee published a report which finds that the government’s overall approach to its Prevent programme (Preventing Violent Extremism) is contentious and unlikely ever to be fully accepted in its existing form by those it is most important to engage.
The report suggests that the current breadth of focus of Prevent – from community work to crime prevention – sits uncomfortably within a counter-terrorism strategy. It argues that Prevent risks undermining positive cross-cultural work on cohesion and capacity building to combat exclusion and alienation in many communities.
The report argues that the 'single focus on Muslims in Prevent has been unhelpful' and expresses concern at the number of people who feel that the programme has been used to spy on Muslim communities. It calls on the government to commission an independent investigation into allegations of inappropriate surveillance.
In relation to the government’s analysis of the factors which lead people to become involved in violent extremism, the report concludes that there has been a preoccupation with the theological basis of radicalisation when the evidence seems to indicate that politics, policy and socio-economics may be more important factors in this process. It recommends that opportunities are provided for greater empowerment and civil engagement with democratic institutions in order to strengthen interaction and engagement with society by Muslims and other excluded groups.