‘Prevent’ to be reviewed as way of tackling extremism

The government’s controversial Prevent counter-radicalisation programme is to be reviewed in Greater Manchester, as part of an inquiry into the way extremism is tackled in the region.

The review into all forms of violent extremism was announced by the Mayor, Andy Burnham, in the wake of the bombing on 22 May at Manchester Arena which killed 22 people and injured more than 250. “Tackling extremism has got to begin with families and communities. We need to ask what more we can do to identify those who pose a risk to others,” Mr Burnham said.

“Prevent has achieved some success, but it needs more grassroots involvement.” The Mayor praised how the people of Manchester responded to the attack, but police said that Islamophobic attacks increased after the bombing by more than 500 per cent.