Strategy to prevent terrorism launched

'Prevent' programme deals with non-violent extremism as well as violent extremism

Home Secretary Theresa May has unveiled the new Prevent programme, which aims to stop people being drawn into terrorism.

Prevent will deal with all forms of terrorism and target non-violent extremism as well as violent extremism, and ensure government funding and support cannot reach organisations with extremist views who do not support mainstream British values.

Also, 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.

All new programmes will be evaluated rigorously to ensure effectiveness and value for money.

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 and closer work with the Charity Commission to investigate allegations of terrorist activity or links.

Also, work to tackle terrorist use of the internet for radicalisation, including the filtering of unlawful content by public bodies such as schools and libraries, work with industry and international partners to crack down on unlawful content hosted in the UK and overseas and extra support, where appropriate, to help faith organisations reach people vulnerable to radicalisation.

Lastly, 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 and renewed efforts in prisons to stop people becoming radicalised and to de-radicalise those who have been involved in extremism before being jailed.

£36m from the Home Office and £10m from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will go towards the Prevent budget for 2011/12.

May said: "Our new Prevent strategy will challenge extremist ideology, help protect institutions from extremists, and tackle the radicalisation of vulnerable people."

"Above all, it will tackle the threat from home-grown terrorism."

Further information:
Home Office