Home Office
 Printable version
|
 E-mail this to a friend
|
Radical new Prevent strategy launched
A radically
different strategy to prevent people being drawn into terrorism
was unveiled today by Home Secretary Theresa May.
The new Prevent programme will:
* deal with all forms of terrorism and target not just violent
extremism but also non-violent extremism, which can create an
atmosphere conducive to terrorism and can popularise views which
terrorists exploit;
* ensure government funding and support
cannot reach organisations with extremist views who do not support
mainstream British values;
* challenge the ideology that
supports terrorism and those who promote it;
* support sectors
and institutions, including universities and prisons, where there
are risks of radicalisation; and
* draw on existing successful
programmes to protect vulnerable individuals from being drawn into terrorism.
Crucially, all new programmes will be evaluated rigorously to ensure effectiveness and value for money.
Home Secretary Theresa May said:
"Prevent is an integral part of our
counter-terrorism strategy and aims to stop people from becoming
terrorists or supporting terrorism.
"Our new Prevent strategy will challenge extremist ideology, help protect institutions from extremists, and tackle the radicalisation of vulnerable people. And we will not fund or work with organisations that do not subscribe to the core values of our society.
"Above all, it will tackle the threat from home-grown terrorism."
The new strategy was published alongside a detailed review of
past Prevent work and an assessment of the extent and causes of
radicalisation in this country and overseas.
The new strategy will see:
* a greater effort to tackle extremist ideologies, including work
with mainstream individuals to make sure moderate voices are
heard;
* tough action to exclude foreign hate preachers;
*
work to tackle terrorist use of the internet for radicalisation,
including the filtering of unlawful content by public bodies such
as schools and libraries; and work with industry and international
partners to crack down on unlawful content hosted in the UK and
overseas;
* action to build upon the success of the
multi-agency Channel programme, which identifies and supports
people at risk of radicalisation;
* work with schools,
including a more effective inspection regime to ensure that
extremists are not participating in the education of young
people;
* greater support for universities and colleges,
training staff to recognise the signs of radicalisation and
improving awareness of help available to them;
* renewed
efforts in prisons to stop people becoming radicalised and to
de-radicalise those who have been involved in extremism before
being jailed;
* extra support, where appropriate, to help
faith organisations reach people vulnerable to radicalisation;
and
* closer work with the Charity Commission to investigate
allegations of terrorist activity or links.
The budget for Prevent in 2011/12 will be £46million - £36million from the Home Office and £10million from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Lord Carlile, the independent reviewer of the Prevent review, said:
"This new Prevent strategy has my full support. It provides a template for challenging the extremist ideas and terrorist actions which seek to undermine the rule of law and fundamental British political values and institutions.
"Its tone is clear, and its policy compelling. It offers a positive message for mutual respect, tolerance and liberty."
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. To see a full copy of the Prevent review report, go to the
Home Office website.
2. For further information, call our
newsdesk on 020 7035 3535.
Contacts:
Home Office Press Office
Phone: 020 7035 3535
NDS.HO@coi.gsi.gov.uk
