The government's flagship anti-terrorism programme, Prevent, is 'outdated and inadequately prepared' to tackle modern extremism, including threats from individuals with no fixed ideology, a cross-party committee of MPs has concluded.
The Home Affairs Select Committee called for a fundamental reset of the approach, urging a move away from a 'counter-terror mindset' towards a multi-agency strategy to triage referrals to appropriate services. The report highlighted the growing prevalence of under-18s being drawn into extremism, over-representation of neurodiverse individuals, and the use of AI to spread tailored content and disinformation.
Concerns follow reviews into recent extremist attacks, including the Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana and the killer of MP Sir David Amess, Ali Harbi Ali, where Prevent prematurely closed cases due to a lack of fixed ideology. The committee noted that extremism is increasingly driven by algorithms and AI, outpacing moderation efforts, with smaller platforms becoming hotbeds for extremism.
Karen Bradley, Conservative chair of the committee, said Prevent's core functions were 'established in a different age' and now must support individuals with complex needs and no ideological motivation, operating in poorly understood digital spaces. She called for a comprehensive local structure implemented nationwide to ensure referrals receive the right support.
The Home Office responded by stating it is delivering a 'fundamental reset' in countering extremism, including expanding visa taskforces to stop foreign extremists, bolstering disruption capabilities, and publishing more information to arm frontline staff.
