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The Yorkshire Post: 'Millions wasted' in bid to halt terrorism

The Yorkshire Post: 'Millions wasted' in bid to halt terrorism

Categories: Latest News

Wednesday July 07 2010

  The Yorkshire Post reports that ‘millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to prevent the spread of violent extremism’ has been been ‘wasted‘ because it has ‘ended up in the hands of councils and community groups ill-equipped to tackle terrorism.’ 

From the Yorkshire Post:

‘On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the July 2005 bomb attacks, the Government’s Preventing Violent Extremism programme has “tainted” good community cohesion work by associating it with counter-terrorism, critics say.

‘Some fearful Muslims believe they are being “spied on” by councils and even their own organisations which have accepted Prevent money.’

The article further adds:

‘Around £200m of Government money has been spent on housing, schools, health and sports facilities but some of the spending has bred resentment in areas that missed out.

‘The Prevent programme has also led to bitter arguments among Muslim community groups, with critics refusing to engage in the counter-terrorism scheme and others taking the money because alternative sources of funds have dried up.

‘Across Muslim communities there are claims they have been stigmatised and singled out, while white, far right extremism has been ignored.’

A comment piece in the Yorkshire Post further highlights how the Prevent strategy has failed and bred suspicion among communities, citing the findings of the Commons Select Committee report which found that the Prevent programme ‘has stigmatised and alienated those it is most important to engage, and tainted many positive community cohesion projects.

The coalition government is currently reviewing the Prevent programme amidst growing criticism that it is ineffective and inefficient.

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