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Anti-terror strategy a toxic brand - Muslim former officer Anti-terror strategy a toxic brand - Muslim former officer
(about 1 hour later)
The government's "Prevent" strategy aimed at stopping violent extremism has become "a toxic brand", a former senior Muslim police officer has said.The government's "Prevent" strategy aimed at stopping violent extremism has become "a toxic brand", a former senior Muslim police officer has said.
Dal Babu said some officers involved in the programme lacked basic knowledge of race and faith issues.Dal Babu said some officers involved in the programme lacked basic knowledge of race and faith issues.
Most Muslims did not trust the programme and many saw it as a form of spying, he said.Most Muslims did not trust the programme and many saw it as a form of spying, he said.
The Home Office defended the scheme, saying 130,000 people had been trained to help identify and prevent extremism.The Home Office defended the scheme, saying 130,000 people had been trained to help identify and prevent extremism.
With an annual budget of £40m, the Prevent programme is one of four strands of Contest, the acronym given to the government's multi-pronged counter-terrorism strategy.With an annual budget of £40m, the Prevent programme is one of four strands of Contest, the acronym given to the government's multi-pronged counter-terrorism strategy.
Its stated aim is to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Prevent's stated aim is to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
The Home Office says there are now Prevent programmes in place in all key sectors, including local government, health, education, prisons, immigration and charities.The Home Office says there are now Prevent programmes in place in all key sectors, including local government, health, education, prisons, immigration and charities.
'Lack of knowledge''Lack of knowledge'
But Mr Babu, who retired as a chief superintendent with the Metropolitan Police in 2013, said cases like those of the three London schoolgirls who have gone to Syria had caught the authorities unaware.But Mr Babu, who retired as a chief superintendent with the Metropolitan Police in 2013, said cases like those of the three London schoolgirls who have gone to Syria had caught the authorities unaware.
He said because police counter-terrorism units were mainly white, with few Muslim officers, they did not fully understand issues of race, Islam and gender.He said because police counter-terrorism units were mainly white, with few Muslim officers, they did not fully understand issues of race, Islam and gender.
Mr Babu said one senior police officer he had spoken to did not know the difference between Sunni and Shia Muslims.Mr Babu said one senior police officer he had spoken to did not know the difference between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
"This lack of knowledge is amplified considerably with the more junior officers who perform the role of implementing the Prevent strategy," he said."This lack of knowledge is amplified considerably with the more junior officers who perform the role of implementing the Prevent strategy," he said.
"Sadly, Prevent has become a toxic brand and most Muslims are suspicious of what Prevent is doing."Sadly, Prevent has become a toxic brand and most Muslims are suspicious of what Prevent is doing.
"This is unfortunate but a reality and the government needs to develop a co-ordinated strategy to safeguard vulnerable children who are being groomed by IS [Islamic State]."This is unfortunate but a reality and the government needs to develop a co-ordinated strategy to safeguard vulnerable children who are being groomed by IS [Islamic State].
'Credibility gap''Credibility gap'
"We may need to look at identifying appropriate language to safeguard our children and avoid using a strategy which many Muslims see as being discredited."We may need to look at identifying appropriate language to safeguard our children and avoid using a strategy which many Muslims see as being discredited.
"Many Muslims see Prevent as spying and those Muslim organisations who have taken Prevent funding have a considerable credibility gap within the Muslim community.""Many Muslims see Prevent as spying and those Muslim organisations who have taken Prevent funding have a considerable credibility gap within the Muslim community."
Mr Babu, a highly respected figure in policing circles, helped found the National Association of Muslim Police during a 30-year career in which he became one of the most senior Asian officers in the UK.Mr Babu, a highly respected figure in policing circles, helped found the National Association of Muslim Police during a 30-year career in which he became one of the most senior Asian officers in the UK.