New figures today showed that Prevent is being used to refer more people for far-right views and less Islamist views.
The government received 4,915 reports in relation to its flagship anti-terrorist programme. 25% were related to extreme right-wing views and 22% to Islamist. Most cases, 51%, were from individuals who had a “mixed or unstable ideology”.
Among the 688 cases deemed the most serious and passed onto Channel – which mentors individuals to turn them away from terrorist causes – 46% concerned right-wing terror and 22% Islamism. An additional 30% were classified as mixed or unidentified. For the third year straight, Channel cases have been dominated by the far-right.
Following the murder of Tory MP David Amess in an Islamist terrorist attack, Prevent was under new scrutiny. Criticisms have been repeated in accusing Prevent officials, who are supposedly politically correct, of diverting too much resources to suspected far-right extremists when Islamist radicals pose a “far greater danger”.
Right-wing terrorist Darren Osborne was responsible for driving a van into Finsbury Park Mosque, north London. He killed one person. From the start 2017 through today, Islamist terrorists killed 36 others. Thomas Mair, a right-wing extremist who murdered Jo Cox (Labour MP) in 2016
The Prevent program requires local authorities staff, as well as other professional such teachers, doctors, and social workers to raise concerns about a potential terrorist threat.
Ian Acheson is a former prison governor, and is presently a senior advisor at the Counter Extremism Project. He suggested that research be done to determine what drove referrals, and why they are ‘out-of-kilter.
MailOnline was informed by him that he could not dispute the facts. It is also foolish to overlook extreme right-wing ideologies as drivers of violent extremism.
“But, it is important to inquire about why these referrals are made and what the motives behind them.
The government received 4,915 reports in March 2015, which included 25% that were related to extremist and 22% of Islamist views. The number of first referrals to the government for Islamic radicalisation concerns has dropped dramatically since 2015/16. However, there have been steady increases in cases concerning far-right beliefs.
Among the 688 cases deemed the most serious and passed onto Channel – which mentors individuals to turn them away from terrorist causes – 46% concerned right-wing terror and 22% Islamism
These pie charts display percentage splits of different ideologies across each phase for the year ending in March 2021.
What is the controversy surrounding Prevent?
Local authority personnel and all other professions such as teachers, social workers, doctors and teachers have the responsibility to report concerns that a person is being radicalized or drawn into terrorism under the Prevent program.
A local official will review the report and decide if the tip is worth a formal referral. Local police officers are trained to handle prevent referrals.
An illustration of the Prevent process.
The case is then classified according to the nature of the person’s alleged beliefs. This can be based on any evidence, from overheard comments or their history on social media.
People who don’t identify as far-right, Islamists or Islamists are classified as having a “mixed unstable or unclear” ideology.
The council may only receive reports that are less severe. This could include parental support to families where their children were watching inappropriate online videos.
The graph below shows which types of professionals make initial referrals.
Prevent’s Channel will forward serious reports to the appropriate authorities. There, a group of social workers, doctors, and local police officers will review each case.
Counter-terror police are involved at this point and will get information from counsellors or social workers working with the person concerned.
Then he added, “There is likely to be a lot concern hiding in the dominant group mixed unstable or unclear ideology. Does this group get the same attention?
“I am not clear, however, that alienated young people who are attracted by the Incel sub-culture in any way equate with religiously motivated extremism so harmful to society as a threat to society.”
The Shawcross Review of Prevent, which will be published over the next few months, was requested by Mr Acheson to examine the question of the categorisation of different beliefs and to ensure that there is a “relentless focus upon real harms”.
The largest number of people referred to for radicalisation of any kind in the 12 months ending March 2021 was aged between 15 and 20.
However, Islamic extremism was more popular among those aged between 15 and 20 (27%) than it is with other ideologies (1,064).
The Channel stage showed that 64% were between 15-30 years old. 63% of the accused were between 20 and 30 years old for far-right terrorist support.
Henry Jackson Society stated that at the time David Amess was murdered by Tory MP David Amess and claimed counter-extremism specialists had “lost sight” of their obligation to prevent terrorist acts.
According to the think tank, there has been an imbalance between the number of Islamist cases being referred and the amount of cases that have been referred by extreme Right-wing groups. We are seeing the devastating consequences.
“The Prevent Review has been derailed. Left-wing groups are trying to litigate all aspects of the work. But a hard look at the cases where Prevent has failed shows that this is just the latest in an ongoing series.
Prevent imposes a local duty on public servants, such as teachers and doctors to raise concerns about individuals being drawn into terrorism.
There has been an increase in referrals for far-right views since 2015/16. However, the initial number of such referrals have dropped dramatically.
This coincides with a growing focus on far right extremism after the assassination of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016 by a white supremacist.
Neil Basu, the Met’s chief anti-terror officer warned last year that Britain’s far right poses the greatest terror threat.
Channel cases for right-wing radicalisation broken down by region: There has been a steady increase in the emphasis on the threat posed by far-right terrorism since the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox by a white supremacist in 2016
This graph displays the age breakdown for initial Prevent referrals. It also shows those considered to be referred to the more serious Channel phase. The year ending March 2021.
Unsurprisingly, the Prevent process covers the largest number of cases in all stages. The year ending March 2021 saw the last Prevent case being handled by men.
Following the murder of Tory MP David Amess in an Islamist terrorist attack, Prevent was put under renewed scrutiny. Pictured: Ali Harbi Ali has been accused of murdering and premeditating an act terrorist.
Prevent refers cases to Prevent for further investigation. The case is then categorised according to the nature and extent of the individual’s beliefs. Evidence can include comments made in public or their history on social media.
People who are not viewed as either far-right or Islamist are categorised as having a ‘mixed, unstable or unclear’ ideology.
Channel refers serious reports to them. Mentoring is often used to help reduce their risk of committing a terrorist act. Participation is voluntary at this stage.
Prevent isn’t believed to be involved in the suicide bombing of Emad Al Swealmeen, a Liverpool man.
Is Prevent working? Attacks by Islamist terrorists who have been referred the scheme
LEADING Khairi Saadallah (27) fatally staggered James Furlong (36) and Dr David Wails (49) during a knife attack in a park near the centre of town. Later, he admitted to his crimes and was sentenced with a life-long term in prison. The Reading Refugee Support Group warned Prevent officials he could carry out a ‘London Bridge-style attack’. The Independent reports that he did not possess a fixed ideology.
Khairi Sadallah, a 27-year-old Reading attacker was examined by Prevent officials. She had no fixed ideology, however, it is reported. Sudesh Amman, a south London stabber, was assessed by Prevent officials. But, the panel ruled that his case was not worthy of intervention
STREATHAM Sudesh amman, a man who was dressed in a false suicide vest and had stabbed 2 people at Streatham Street in south London on February 2, 2020 was killed by police. Although he was referred by Prevent, the panel ruled that his case didn’t require intervention.
LONDON BRIDGEOn November 29, 2019, Jack Merritt (25), and Saskia Jane Jones (23), were killed by Usman Khan (28) at a prisoner rehab event. Khan was also wounded before being released on licence from prison in December 2018. He was then shot by officers at the bridge. An inquest heard his Prevent officers had ‘no specific training’ in handling terrorists.
PARSONS GREEN September 15, 2017, Ahmed Hassan was sentenced to life with a minimum of 34 years in prison. His homemade bomb partially detonated on a London Underground rush-hour train and injured more than 50 others. His sentence was life imprisonment with a maximum term of 34 year. Prevent was his referral 20 months ago, before he had planted the bomb.
Usman Khan, 28 (left), who attacked two college graduates and killed them after attending a London Bridge prisoner rehab event, was in direct contact with Prevent officers that had “no particular training” in terrorist handling, an inquest found. Ahmed Hassan (Parsons Green bomber) was also identified as part of the anti-terrorism program 20 months before he placed the Tube device injuring 50 people at rush hour in 2017.
Prisons: Although the prison population is growing, far-right terrorists are still in jail. However, Islamists remain the major group.
Henry Martin for MailOnline
The prison data shows that Islamic extremism in Britain is clearly the prime ideology behind terrorist acts. But, in recent times, extreme right-wing terror has seen a rise in numbers.
From March 31, this year, figures show that 157 prisoners were classified as “Islamist extremists”, with 44 others being classified as “extreme right-wing”.
That same day, 98 (46%) of 215 terrorist-related prisoners were identified as Asians or Asian British. 68 (32%), 68 (22%), and 18 (8%) respectively, as Whites or Blacks.
A majority of terrorist-related offenses prisoners held in prison on 31 March 2021 (73%) declared that they were Muslim. 25 of the prisoners (12%) claimed to be of a Christian faith.
Figures taken from the ‘Terrorism and Great Britain: Statistics’ study, published by House of Commons Library last Wednesday.
The Home Office classifies terrorist prisoners by ‘ideology’ in relation to their membership to proscribed groups according to this criteria:
- Islamist extremist – This refers to individuals from Islamic proscribed groups who advocate, justify or glorify acts of violence (especially against civilians) or other illegal conduct to achieve fundamental changes to society.
- Extreme right-wing: This is a group of individuals who are members of politically extreme right wing banned groups, such as National Action. National Action became the first extremist right-wing organization to be designated as a terrorist organisation on December 2016.
- Other – This refers to individuals from proscribed groups not categorised as ‘Islamist extremist’ or ‘far right-wing’. It includes, for example, Northern Ireland related groups such the Ulster Volunteers Force. Also included in this category are cases when the identity of the terrorist organization to which they belong is unknown.
The National Offender Management Service (for England and Wales) and the Scottish Prison Service provided figures of the number of people in custody either convicted and sentenced for a terrorism-connected offence.
Data on terrorist and extremist prisoners is published on a quarterly basis and provides a point in time indication of the number of individuals in custody, not necessarily a flow.
In September 2020, the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office officially adopted the new definition of ‘Terrorism Connected Offender’. This replaces the term previously used ‘Terrorism Related Offender’.
According to the House of Commons, September 2020 figures are not comparable with those of previous quarters or years.
Terrorism-connected Offender refers to individuals who have committed certain offences and were found guilty by the sentencing court of a terrorist connection, in accordance Part 3 of Counter-Terrorism Act 2008
Terrorism related offender means someone who was convicted for a terrorist-related offense under both terrorism (Sections 41 and 41 of Terrorism Act 2000, and other legislation) or non-terrorism legislation.
This includes prisoners who may be connected to terrorist offenders, but they are themselves charged with criminal offences such as furnishing false documentation.