Anti-terrorist programme Prevent ‘outdated and inadequately prepared’, report finds

The home affairs select committee said Prevent cannot deal with the modern challenges of fighting extremism The government’s anti-terrorism programme, Prevent, is “outdated and inadequately prepared” to deal with modern challenges such as extremists adhering to no particular ideology, an influential cross-party group of MPs has concluded. The home affairs select committee has called for a reset to the approach for dealing with fast-evolving online subcultures promoting antisemitism, anti-Muslim hostility, misogyny and violence, as well as an over-representation of neurodiverse people and those with mental health conditions. A report released on Wednesday said ministers should veer away from “a counter-terror mindset” and instead establish a multi-agency strategy to triage referrals to appropriate services. The report follows concerns that the £40m programme, which forms a key part of the UK’s counter-terror strategy, has failed to escalate concerns about individuals involved in recent extremist attacks. A review last year into Prevent and the Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana found the scheme “prematurely” closed its case into him due to there being no evidence th