PRESS RELEASE : Prevent programme strengthened a year on from independent review [March 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 20 February 2024.

Vast majority of review recommendations implemented within one year, with the remaining recommendations progressing at pace.

A year on from the Independent Review of Prevent, the government has already implemented the vast majority of recommendations. This delivers on a commitment made at the time of the independent review’s publication.

A report published today demonstrates the significant progress made to deliver a stronger, more transparent and proportionate approach to stopping people from being radicalised into terrorism.

Thirty of the 34 recommendations made by Independent Reviewer William Shawcross have already been delivered and progress has been made against each of the remaining recommendations.

Key recommendations implemented since the independent review include:

• new Prevent duty guidance came into effect in England and Wales on 31 December 2023 that assists statutory partners to understand how to comply with the duty and strengthen their Prevent delivery
• new channel duty guidance was published on 9 October 2023 that ensures the multi-agency support provided to those susceptible to radicalisation is robust, effective and consistent
• strengthened due diligence checks on civil society organisations to ensure that Prevent does not work with or fund those who legitimise or support terrorism
• research to assess the reviewer’s concerns about the prevalence of antisemitism in channel cases has bolstered our approach to tackling extremist narratives: furthermore, new intervention providers specialising in antisemitism have been hired
• delivery of the programme has moved from a national to a regional model to ensure we remain dynamic to the threat of radicalisation facing this country: 170+ local authorities in England and Wales are now supported by an expert prevent adviser to maximise delivery.

In the 12 months since the publication of the independent review, the Home Office has built on the recommendations made by leading a cross-government change programme which directs activity to where it will have the most impact tackling radicalisation and dangerous ideologies.

Effective partnership and multi-agency working is central to the delivery of Prevent. The government, operational partners and local authorities have worked closely together to implement the recommendations of the review.

The Home Secretary James Cleverley said:

Delivering the recommendations of the Independent Review of Prevent has been critical to ensuring a Prevent programme that is fit for purpose and agile enough to meet the threats we face today.

The conflict in Israel and Gaza has brought the importance of Prevent into sharp focus. Prevent is a key part of our plan to tackle radicalisation and I am confident that it is more capable than ever at meeting that challenge.

The Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:

Protecting the British public isn’t just about waiting for the next threat, we must confront the ideas that drive radicalisation and violence. Prevent is key to our defence.

This past year we’ve brought Prevent back to its core mission – tackling the ideological causes of terrorism.

The conflict in the Middle East has demonstrated why that mission has never been more important. We will continue to adapt our approach to keep pace with the evolving threat.

To ensure rigorous, consistent, and proportionate decision making on all referrals to the programme, a new prevent assessment framework has been implemented so that only those presenting a counter-terrorism risk are supported by Prevent.

Further, a new security threat check has been implemented across Prevent delivery to ensure that all activity is guided by the current threat picture.

The independent review placed a strong emphasis on enhancing training and a refreshed training package has been developed alongside partners, including the Commission for Countering Extremism, Department for Education, Department for Health and Social Care and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

This training places an increased focus on extremist ideologies so that frontline professionals can confidently identify those at risk and refer them to Prevent when support is required.

The overhaul of the Prevent programme has been underpinned by the guiding principles of the independent review to bring Prevent back to its core mission of stopping people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism, increasing understanding of extremist ideology, enhancing approach to delivery, and improving transparency and oversight.

In the coming weeks, a new standards and compliance unit will be operationalised by the Commission for Countering Extremism to create an independent oversight function. It will provide the public and those working on the programme with an avenue to report instances where Prevent may have fallen short of the expected high standards.

Work will continue to ensure these changes are firmly and consistently embedded across government and the frontline professionals who deliver the programme in communities.