Open letter on the UK's 'Prevent' counter-terrorism strategy

The government's Prevent strategy - which forms one strand of the government's overarching counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST - seeks to pre-empt acts of terrorism by identifying those at risk of committing such attacks, including by "intervening to stop people moving … from extremism into terrorist-related activity".

 

Developed without a firm evidence base and rooted in a vague and expansive definition of "extremism", Prevent has been widely criticised for fostering discrimination against people of Muslim faith or background, and chilling legitimate expression.

 

There have been repeated calls to establish an independent review of the Prevent strategy and three UN independent experts have called on the United Kingdom to launch an independent review of Prevent that incorporates a comprehensive assessment of its impact on human rights. 

 

The Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill is currently passing through the House of Lords, and amendments 57 and 57A would require an independent review of Prevent.

 

We urge members of the House of Lords to support these amendments and take this opportunity to ensure Prevent is at last subject to independent review.

 

Signatories:

Amnesty International

ARTICLE 19

Committee on the Administration of Justice

Human Rights Watch

Index on Censorship

Liberty

Medact 

Rights Watch (UK)

Rachel Logan, Amnesty International UK's legal expert, said: 

"Prevent is a highly dubious scheme built on shaky, almost evidence-free, foundations - it's sorely in need of a proper review. Peers need to ensure that Prevent is rigorously and independently assessed, with all the human rights impacts of the scheme fully investigated."

Adriana Edmeades Jones, Rights Watch (UK)'s Legal and Policy Director, said:

"In the face of mounting evidence that Prevent is undermining relationships of trust and chilling expression in classrooms and consultation rooms across the country, it is clear that Prevent is simply not fit for purpose. It is in everyone’s interests - the communities who are targeted, the teachers, doctors and social workers tasked with implementing it, and the Government itself - that Prevent is subject to an independent review."

Joy Hyvarinen, Index on Censorship's Head of Advocacy, said: 

"An independent review of the Prevent strategy is overdue and essential if the government wants to tackle the widespread doubts about Prevent. The House of Lords should ensure that the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill includes a review of Prevent."

Brian Gormally, Committee on the Administration of Justice's Director, said: 

"If the categories, criteria and methods of Prevent were applied in Northern Ireland there would be an explosion of resentment in both Loyalist and Republican communities. Why then is it alright to use them in communities in Britain?"

Letta Tayler, Human Rights Watch's senior researcher on terrorism and counter-terrorism, said:

"This amendment to the UK counter-terrorism bill provides a good opportunity to ensure long overdue scrutiny of Prevent, a key part of the country's counter-extremism programme. Intrusive security powers should have independent oversight."