The UK’s Prevent deradicalisation programme is a mystery to many Muslims, a government survey has revealed.
Questions have been raised over the terror monitoring programme and its effectiveness after a number of attacks took place on British soil while the system was in place.
The scheme relies on referrals from teachers, health workers and members of the public who have extremism concerns about individuals.
The survey, which was commissioned by the government to assess the scheme, has revealed that more than half of British Muslims “knew little or nothing” about it.
One in five Muslim students surveyed also revealed they felt Prevent had stopped them speaking freely in class for fear of being reported.
More than a third of teachers told the researchers they have not received proper training to identify signs of extremism.
Now researchers from ICM, which conducted the survey, have called on the government to raise more awareness of the scheme and address the trust issues the public have.
They recommend that the government creates a website dedicated to the scheme to address the situation.
“While increasing knowledge about Prevent as a whole will bring benefits, there are specific areas that need to be tackled when educating people about the programme,” the researchers said.
“Challenging such misconceptions as Prevent involves police surveillance, that it only targets certain communities, and that it is predominantly focused on Islamist terrorism will be one of the most important factors in securing the success of future activity.
“In terms of what would be the most useful resource to help people learn about Prevent and debunk incorrect assumptions, there is a clear appetite among the general public for a website with useful information.
“This chimes with people’s most frequently cited source for wanting to find out more about Prevent, indicating that when people turn to the internet for information, there should be an official website that acts a reliable and up-to-date source of information. A website should cater to the public’s appetite for practical advice such as ‘examples of the signs of radicalisation’ as well as an ‘explanation of what happens after you make a referral’.”
The researchers said a quarter of people revealed they would make an online referral if they could through a website.
One in seven British Muslims (15 per cent) had an unfavourable opinion of Prevent, “a proportion that, while still low, was higher than for any other demographic”, the report said.
“The message from this finding is clear: educating people about the nature of Prevent and what it involves is the most effective way to improve trust and perceptions of the programme.
“There is a positive relationship between knowledge and favourability. This should be reassuring for the Home Office as it suggests that the programme is not inherently mistrusted. These findings corroborate with the Mayor of London’s Countering Violent Extremism report which concluded that ‘Prevent will only be successful if London’s diverse array of communities have trust in it and view it as a strategy to safeguard them’.”
ICM interviewed a total of 1,464 adults aged over 16 in England and Wales.
Last year, there were 5,738 referrals to Prevent, a reduction of 21 per cent from the previous year when there were 7,318.
Only 23 per cent of the referrals were deemed suitable by the Home Office for the programme.
In 2017, it was revealed that Ahmed Hassan, who was responsible for the Parson’s Green station terror attack in London, had attended the Prevent programme.
UAE rugby season
FIXTURES
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers v Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Division 1
Dubai Sharks v Dubai Hurricanes II
Al Ain Amblers v Dubai Knights Eagles II
Dubai Tigers II v Abu Dhabi Saracens
Jebel Ali Dragons II v Abu Dhabi Harlequins II
Sharjah Wanderers v Dubai Exiles II
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West Asia Premiership
Winners – Bahrain
Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership
Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners – Dubai Hurricanes
Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference
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Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
Gothia Cup 2025
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Multitasking pays off for money goals
Tackling money goals one at a time cost financial literacy expert Barbara O'Neill at least $1 million.
That's how much Ms O'Neill, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University in the US, figures she lost by starting saving for retirement only after she had created an emergency fund, bought a car with cash and purchased a home.
"I tell students that eventually, 30 years later, I hit the million-dollar mark, but I could've had $2 million," Ms O'Neill says.
Too often, financial experts say, people want to attack their money goals one at a time: "As soon as I pay off my credit card debt, then I'll start saving for a home," or, "As soon as I pay off my student loan debt, then I'll start saving for retirement"."
People do not realise how costly the words "as soon as" can be. Paying off debt is a worthy goal, but it should not come at the expense of other goals, particularly saving for retirement. The sooner money is contributed, the longer it can benefit from compounded returns. Compounded returns are when your investment gains earn their own gains, which can dramatically increase your balances over time.
"By putting off saving for the future, you are really inhibiting yourself from benefiting from that wonderful magic," says Kimberly Zimmerman Rand , an accredited financial counsellor and principal at Dragonfly Financial Solutions in Boston. "If you can start saving today ... you are going to have a lot more five years from now than if you decide to pay off debt for three years and start saving in year four."
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
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Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
