An independent review into the Government’s Prevent strategy is welcome, said Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. He said that while the strategy was effective in reassuring some communities, it alienates others.
Sadiq Khan said: “Violent extremism is one of the biggest threats facing London and our country. We simply must do better at safeguarding the vulnerable and stopping people from promoting these vile ideologies with such horrific consequences. There is a role for all of Londoners in tackling the spread of violent extremism, but this research shows that unfortunately, the Prevent programme is failing some of the communities that most desperately need it. I welcome the government’s announcement last week of an independent review of Prevent to ensure a better programme that has greater community confidence.
“We have to do more to empower communities to speak out and challenge hate crime and extremist views. We need communities to report concerns to the police and local authorities, and find lasting solutions that will stop the spread of violent extremism completely.”
He was speaking ahead of a meeting of some of the organisations that have been working with his Countering Violent Extremism programme. One of his six specialist advisers, Clare Coghill, Leader of Waltham Forest Council in east London, said: “All communities need to understand the ever-changing threat from extremism in London and what part we all play in challenging extremist views. It is through the leadership being shown by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, that we can empower Londoners to speak out against extremist views and ideologies that left unchallenged lead to violence on the streets of the capital.”
Sadiq Khan commissioned research in April 2018 into Londoners’ views and experiences of extremism, and how they would identify and refer any concerns they had to the police or others in authority. Most, 61 per cent of respondents thought that the threat from extremism (defined as views opposing values like democracy, tolerance and the rule of law) is increasing, while only 4pc felt it’s decreasing. A quarter, 25 per cent of respondents had witnessed or experienced extremist views in the past 12 months. A bare quarter, 24 per cent of respondents would feel confident about being able to spot the signs that someone might be vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation towards extremism and terrorism.
For the survey results visit: https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/65vxz5ovsa/MOPACResults_181005_Extremism_London_W.pdf.
