Priti Patel to order major shake-up of Prevent counter-terror scheme after fatal bungles
HOME Secretary Priti Patel is to order a major shake-up of the Prevent counter-terror scheme after fatal bungles.
An independent review is nearly ready after delays.
And Ms Patel, a friend of MP Sir David Amess — murdered by a terrorist in October — admitted: “Things need to change.”
Ali Harbi Ali was last week given a whole-life sentence for Sir David’s murder.
His ex-teacher reported him to Prevent seven years before the attack, but was told: “We don’t think he’s a threat.”
William Shawcross began his review in 2019 and requested an extension at the end of last year.
Government figures are said to be frustrated with the delay.
Ms Patel refused to say if she was among them, adding: “This review is really important to me.”
Meanwhile a Channel 4 Dispatches investigation revealed that more than half of suspects involved in terror attacks in the last five years were known to Prevent.
Fourteen people were killed and 128 injured in attacks including in Reading, Streatham, and the Plymouth shootings and Liverpool bomb blast.
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The investigation also revealed that fewer than one in ten convicted terrorists every year took part in Prevent.
And 40 per cent could be eligible for release this year — equivalent to 90 convicted terrorists.