Government backs thinktank’s call to widen anti-extremism ‘Prevent’ programme

August 28, 2009

Speaking in response to the announcement today by Communities Secretary John Denham that the Government will be widening the ‘Prevent’ anti-extremism programme beyond Islamist extremism, instead combatting all forms of radicalisation, NLGN Deputy Director Anna Turley said:

“We warmly welcomed the new guidance and funding released today by the Government who have adopted the stance we advocated in our publication earlier this month ‘Stronger Together’.

“Tackling violent extremism cannot be focused solely on one potential threat but must be balanced in tackling all possible risks to the community.

”This additional £7.5m increase in funding and new guidance to local authorities should help bring communities together, not exacerbate tensions between them.

“I welcome the Government’s acknowledgement that the existing ‘Prevent’ agenda was at risk of being undermined by its failure to win support from those whom it needed to engage most of all.

“As our recent report Stronger Together showed, there was increasing concern from the local government community that the programme did not have the support of many within Muslim communities who felt that its sole focus on one particular faith was potentially stigmatising. Broadening out the approach and ensuring that other forms of extremism – including racist and fascist groups – are to be covered by this programme is a more sophisticated and astute approach.”


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