Open Rights GroupFeb 13, 2025

Last week the UK government published a Prevent Learning Review in response to the Southport murders.

If this leads to expanding the scope of an already harmful programme, thousands more innocent people could be put under surveillance.

Read our latest blog ⬇️

#Prevent #PreventDuty #surveillance #ukpolitics #ukpol

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/prevent-duty-redefining-terrorism-in-the-wake-of-southport-attacks/

Prevent Duty: Redefining terrorism in the wake of the Southport attacks

On 23 January 2025, 18 year old Axel Rudakubana was sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison for the horrific murder of three young girls and the attempted murder of eight other children, as well as two adults who tried to save them.

Open Rights Group
Show threadOpen Rights Group

Prevent is the wrong focus ❌

Redefining terrorism will mean more people are referred to the Prevent Duty. But that won’t necessarily make anyone any safer.

The UK government must ask why, despite extensive contact with multiple agencies, Axel Rudakubana still went on to commit this horrific attack.

#Prevent #PreventDuty #surveillance #ukpolitics #ukpol

Feb 13, 2025 at 10:16amWeb
Show threadOpen Rights GroupFeb 13, 2025

People aren't typically referred to Prevent because they've committed a crime, rather due to a speculative risk of 'radicalisation'. The reality is, many Prevent referrals are based on gut instinct, rather than concrete evidence.

BUT also from public sector workers who believe a child needs additional support.

Why should kids have to be considered at risk of becoming a terrorist to get help?

#Prevent #PreventDuty #surveillance #ukpolitics #ukpol

Show threadOpen Rights GroupFeb 13, 2025

The Prevent Duty already sweeps thousands of innocent people into its scope. But the vast majority of people reported don't progress to a Channel panel for intervention and will never engage in serious violence.

Prevent instead diverts resources away from under-funded services, community support and infrastructure that could genuinely keep our communities safe.

#Prevent #PreventDuty #surveillance #ukpolitics #ukpol

Show threadOpen Rights GroupFeb 13, 2025

Doubling down on Prevent, while neglecting ongoing cuts to public services, means even more children who pose no threat will be criminalised and stigmatised.

Expanding Prevent won't create safety, only more long-term surveillance through widespread data collection, sharing and retention.

The families whose girls were murdered deserve a better response.

#Prevent #PreventDuty #surveillance #ukpolitics #ukpol

Show threadEstarriol, Terrorist DragonFeb 13, 2025
@openrightsgroup this is the kneejerk, reform party, answer.