The Politicisation of the UK’s Prevent Counterterrorism Programme and why Adopting a New Public Health Model is Required

In the UK, Prevent is the countering and preventing violent extremism (P/CVE) strand of the national CONTEST counter-terrorism strategy. However, Prevent has disproportionately focused on Muslim communities, even amidst increasing evidence of the growing threats posed by other forms of radicalisation and violent extremism, particularly Extreme Far-Right ideologies and views. Prevent’s narrow focus and politicisation have challenged its effectiveness and legitimacy with many key stakeholders. As a result, Prevent must be reoriented to adopt an innovative and original new public health model set out for the first time in this paper. Given the effectiveness of public health interventions for other forms of crime and violence epidemics, the proposed new public health model for Prevent is significant, as it could potentially increase programme effectiveness by addressing radicalisation and violent extremism risks across a wider variety of ideologies and beliefs, increasing legitimacy amongst essential practitioners and community stakeholders, and reducing politicisation.