More than 20 Scottish school children – including two primary pupils – were referred to the terrorism prevention programme last year, The Edinburgh Reporter reveals.
Police Scotland data shows 85 people in Scotland were referred to the Prevent de-radicalisation programme in 2022-23 – from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 – with 87 referrals in total as two were referred twice.
They included 21 youngsters referred from secondaries and two from primary schools, with a further six from higher education and the largest proportion of referrals at 31 involving people aged 15-20.
A quarter of referrals involved children aged under 15 while 14 referrals were for those aged 21-30.
Sharon Dowey, Scottish Conservative spokesman for victims and community safety, said: “These figures are deeply alarming. “It is crucial that authorities monitor any potential concerns to ensure that the public are kept safe, and children are not exposed to extremism.”
Dr Layla Aitlahdj, Director and Senior Caseworker at Prevent Watch, an organisation that monitors the programme, called for Prevent to be scrapped.
Read | Browse our Cases.
Dr Aitlahdj said: “The Prevent strategy’s focus on surveillance over support stigmatises young people and disrupts their education, all while breaching their privacy through unconsented data sharing.
“Scotland must not follow the path taken in England, where Prevent has eroded trust in schools and communities. The Scottish Government has a chance to reject Prevent’s damaging approach and instead prioritise genuine community support over securitisation.”
Dr Aitlahdj insisted that regardless of the differences in the ideas Prevent targets, the “reality is that it overwhelmingly impacts innocent children”.
She added: “Prevent is a harmful, ineffective strategy that should be suspended. Numerous human rights organisations and the United Nations have raised serious concerns, warning that it fosters alienation and discrimination rather than ensuring safety.
“In Scotland, where community cohesion is a valued priority, Prevent risks undermining this foundation. We urge the Scottish Government to reject Prevent’s damaging approach and learn from the failures of Prevent in England.”
Read the full story on The Edinburgh Reporter.
Related…
The People’s Review of Prevent (Report, 2024)
