Government's strategy for preventing violent extremism to be reviewed

Review will see how the current strand of the counter-terrorism programme can work more effectively.

Prevent, the government's strategy for preventing violent extremism, is to be reviewed.

The review will assess how the current strand of the government's counter-terrorism programme can work more effectively and will have Lord Carlile of Berriew QC provide expert, independent oversight.

The new Prevent strategy will be separate from work to tackle wider forms of extremism and to promote integration, both of which will be led by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The review will, among other things, consider the purpose and scope of the Prevent strategy, its overlap and links with other areas of government policy and its delivery at local level and  consider how activity on Prevent in the UK can be joined up with work overseas.

Also, examine the role of institutions - such as prisons, higher and further education bodies, schools and mosques - in the delivery of Prevent, consider the role of other Prevent delivery partners, including the police and other statutory bodies, examine monitoring and evaluation structures to ensure effectiveness and make recommendations for a revised Prevent strategy.

The Home Secretary will report back on the findings of the Prevent review early next year.

Home Secretary Theresa May said: "Preventing terrorism is not a substitute for investigating and arresting terrorists - police and security agencies will continue to do that. But we have to look at how we stop people getting to that stage in the first place."

"I believe the Prevent programme isn't working as well as it could and that is why we are reviewing it. I want a strategy that is effective and properly focused."

Further information:
Home Office