London's anti-terrorism referrals are predominantly for "Islamist activity," which is in contrast to the national trend, according to a meeting of London's Police and Crime Committee.
The latest figures from Prevent show that there were over three times as many referrals related to Islamist activity compared to right-wing extremism. Prevent is a crucial element of the UK's counter-terrorism strategy, placing public bodies, such as schools and police, under a legal duty to identify individuals who may turn to extremism and intervene in their lives before it is too late.
Met Police Commander Dom Murphy stated that the focus of the police is where the threat exists. The Home Office's hand-picked reviewer, William Shawcross, said that eight out of ten plot investigations were linked to Islamist causes, while less than a fifth of Prevent's caseload was in the same area. In his report, Shawcross stated that there was "a culture of timidity" when it came to tackling Islamism.
The London Assembly's Police and Crime Committee discussed the Prevent review with members of the Met Police and the Mayor's Office for Policing And Crime (MOPAC). Kenny Bowie, the Director of Strategy at MOPAC, stated that the data for London did not reflect the national picture. Bowie said, "The latest figures that we have for this show that there were over three times as many Prevent referrals in London related to Islamist activity than there were for extreme right-wing views." He added that it would suggest that Prevent should go where the threat is.
Oliver Levinson, the Head of the Countering Violent Extremism programme at MOPAC, stated that Prevent had delivered "good work" but was not "without its shortcomings and failures." He called for more to be done to raise awareness of the Prevent strategy, the signs of radicalisation, and what help and support could look like. Of the 34 recommendations in the review, which the government had accepted, MOPAC agreed with some and not others.
Commander Murphy told the committee meeting that it was challenging to take a national view on Prevent when it had "very local implications." He added, "We don't recognise in London that we have removed our focus from Islamist ideology. We still see the majority of Islamist referrals into Prevent here in London. Our focus is where the threat exists. We're agnostic to what that ideology is and we're harm focussed."
Prevent has been criticised for "apparently failing" repeatedly to identify attackers. It is a matter of concern that there was a culture of timidity when it comes to tackling Islamism. The issue is complex and requires a nuanced approach that takes into account the unique characteristics of each case. It is essential to raise awareness of the Prevent strategy and provide support and assistance to individuals who may be vulnerable to radicalisation. The police must remain focused on the threat, regardless of the ideology behind it, to ensure the safety of the public. Photo by Callum Darragh, Wikimedia commons.