Prevent Watch

People's Review of Prevent

The People's Review of Prevent

The People’s Review of Prevent is an alternative review to the Government Shawcross Review.

This review provides a voice to the people most impacted by the Prevent Duty.
Prevent is described as ‘safeguarding’ children from harms. However, under Prevent, safeguarding is focused on protecting the wider public from children believed to be ‘risky’, rather than protecting children from harms.

Throughout our report we present case studies that show how real these harms can be and the distress they cause to children and their families and carers.

Joint Statement: Commission for Countering Extremism

A number of academics including Rob Faure Walker (University College London and PREVENT Digest) have launched a joint statement expressing their concern with the Commission for Countering Extremism. Amongst the signatories are Dr Tarek Younis (UCL & British Academy Fellow), Tom Smith (Senior Lecturer in International Relations, University of Portsmouth), Lee Jasper (Fmr Policing Director for London, Momentum Black Caucus Press Officer), Dr Charlotte Heath-Kelly (University of Warwick) and Asim Qureshi (Research Director, CAGE). Read more

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If Theresa May doesn’t call out Boris Johnson, her message to the Muslim community will be heard loud and clear

There is a “simmering underbelly of Islamophobia” in the Tory party. That’s what the former chair of the Conservatives recently told the Home Affairs Select Committee. Baroness Warsi has continued to speak out on this for years, with marked bravery and dignity in the face of abuse and stonewalling. We now know that this issue of Islamophobia has repeatedly been raised within the party, and to date Theresa May has done nothing. As for her party chair Brandon Lewis? He has done just as little. Read more

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Boris Johnson’s contempt for Muslim women is part of a dangerous pattern

On Monday, in a column in the Daily Telegraph, Boris Johnson compared fully veiled Muslim women to “letter boxes” and “bank robbers”. Thankfully, both the prime minister Theresa May and the Conservative party chair Brandon Lewis have asked Johnson to apologise. Others in my party and in the media have seen fit to defend him. I’d like to set out precisely why his remarks are indefensible, and have no place in the modern Conservative party – and the action I think needs to follow. Read more

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Boris Johnson accused of ‘dog-whistle’ Islamophobia over burqa comments

Boris Johnson has been accused of “dog-whistle” Islamophobia by a former Conservative chair after he compared Muslim women in burqas to “letterboxes” and “bank robbers.” Sayeeda Warsi said the lack of action by the party over Johnson’s comments showed it was “business as usual.” Labour demanded that the Conservative chair, Brandon Lewis, refer the former foreign secretary for mandatory equalities training, amid renewed calls for the party to open an independent investigation into Islamophobia in the party. Read more

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Tories are in denial on Islamophobia, says hero imam

The imam hailed for his heroism in the Finsbury Park terror attack today condemns the Government’s “lacklustre” efforts to fight Islamophobia. Mohammed Mahmoud accuses ministers of failing to show “meaningful engagement” with the Muslim community that is feeling increasingly “vulnerable”. Read more

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Ofsted slammed after downgrading nursery for radicalisation fears

Parents and community members in Brighton reacted with shock and bemusement over Ofsted’s recent decision to downgrade a popular local nursery from “Outstanding” to “Requires improvement” over concerns that staff were not adequately trained to protect the toddlers from radicalisation and so-called extreme views. Read more

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