MPs call for '˜complete rethink' of Government's counter-terrorism strategy

Speaking in a debate about the implementation of the Home Office Prevent programme, the Bradford West MP Naz Shah acknowledged the scheme is needed and has been “partly” successful in tackling radicalisation.

But she highlighted multiple incidents of people feeling “stigmatised” by the current approach, which she argued is fuelling “a ‘them and us’ situation between the Government and the Muslim community”.

She called for an “independent inquiry” into the strategy to ease “suspicion” and improve effectiveness.

“Although I am a critic of the implementation of Prevent, it is clear to me that we need a prevention strategy,” she said.

“When the Home Secretary appeared before the Home Affairs Committee on the previous occasion... she said that we needed to talk Prevent up.

“Unfortunately I cannot commit to talking it up when it fails to acknowledge the “them and us” that its implementation has created between the Muslim community and the Government.

“I ask the Minister whether the Government will... accept the advice in the independent review of terrorism legislation by David Anderson, QC, and establish an independent inquiry into the operation and effectiveness of the Prevent strategy.”

The Prevent programme was unveiled by the Government a decade ago as part of its broader counter-terrorism strategy CONTEST.

Figures for 2015/16 show 7,500 people were referred to the anti-radicalisation scheme, with 54 percent of these relating to concerns around Islamic extremism.

The strategy has repeatedly faced criticisms for being too heavy handed, particularly when the decision was made to roll it out to schools.

But following a review last year, the Home Office concluded it was dealing with the threat of radicalisation “effectively and sensitively” and should be “strengthened, not undermined”

Ms Shah’s concerns were echoed by the Bradford East MP Imran Hussain, who suggested the policy needs a “complete rethink”.

Speaking in the Westminster Hall debate, he said: “It is clear that in its current format, the Prevent strategy is perceived as unfair and is stigmatising communities.

“We need a strategy that is as effective as possible, that engages Muslim youth and communities and that comes without stories... of cameras, spying and young children being placed in these programmes.”