Independent review of Prevent dismisses expertise, minimises misogynist violence and ignores risks of bias in counter-terrorism strategy
8th February 2023
(London, 8 February 2023)The purportedly independent review of the UK Prevent counter-extremism strategy belittles professional expertise, including that of doctors,psychologistsand people who work with vulnerable adults,and does not demonstrate a serious approach to ending any form of violence, Rights & Security International said today.
Prevent isone part of CONTEST, the UK governments counter-terrorism strategy, and its stated intent is to stop people from being drawn into terrorism.Schools, hospitals and other public bodies in England, Wales and Scotland face a legal duty to refer people to Prevent for suspected extremist views.
Todaysreport, authored by Sir William Shawcross,comes over four years afterthe government announced the review. The previous reviewer, Lord Carlile,a supporter of thestrategy,stooddown from thepost following RSIs legal challengeallegingthat he lackedindependence.
This reportdisplaysshoddy research