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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Extremism strategy 'needs change' | Extremism strategy 'needs change' |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| The government's flagship strategy to stop young people becoming terrorists has suffered from a "lack of clarity", the communities secretary is to say. | The government's flagship strategy to stop young people becoming terrorists has suffered from a "lack of clarity", the communities secretary is to say. |
| John Denham is expected to use a speech to defend the programme while conceding that some parts must change. | John Denham is expected to use a speech to defend the programme while conceding that some parts must change. |
| The Prevent strategy has been dogged by controversy over its aims and claims by some Muslims they are being spied on. | The Prevent strategy has been dogged by controversy over its aims and claims by some Muslims they are being spied on. |
| The programme to prevent violent extremism by working with communities emerged after the 2005 London bombings. | The programme to prevent violent extremism by working with communities emerged after the 2005 London bombings. |
| Prevent is one of the major planks of the government's counter-terrorism strategy, known as Contest, designed to combat al-Qaeda-inspired violence and radicalisation. | Prevent is one of the major planks of the government's counter-terrorism strategy, known as Contest, designed to combat al-Qaeda-inspired violence and radicalisation. |
| About £20m is being spent annually on Prevent programmes, many of them administered by local authorities. | About £20m is being spent annually on Prevent programmes, many of them administered by local authorities. |
| Prevent is a crime prevention programme and at its root is to try and make sure none of our young people ruin their lives John Denham | |
| Some more sensitive projects come under direct Whitehall control. | Some more sensitive projects come under direct Whitehall control. |
| Muslim community organisations have been split over Prevent, with some willing to work with government but others denying that there is even a problem that needs addressing. | Muslim community organisations have been split over Prevent, with some willing to work with government but others denying that there is even a problem that needs addressing. |
| Meanwhile, competition between organisations to prove to government that they are best placed to prevent extremism has raised questions about the credibility and independence of some of those bidding for funding. | Meanwhile, competition between organisations to prove to government that they are best placed to prevent extremism has raised questions about the credibility and independence of some of those bidding for funding. |
| At least one council initially refused to touch the money because it believed that the programme's title was enough to damage relations. | At least one council initially refused to touch the money because it believed that the programme's title was enough to damage relations. |
| Mr Denham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme one example of the lack of clarity was the "completely wrong" perception the programme was about demonising the Muslim community. | |
| "Prevent is a crime prevention programme and at its root is to try and make sure none of our young people ruin their lives and other peoples' lives by being drawn into violent extremism," he said. | |
| "It works, not because you demonise a community, but because the vast majority of Muslims are totally opposed to that type of violence. | |
| "You work with them, you bring that great majority view to bear on those who would try to promote violent extremism." | |
| Racism threat | Racism threat |
| He also insisted there was no programme "about collecting ideas about people's political attitudes or beliefs" and denied "spying" was part of the strategy. | |
| "No more than if you knew that someone in your street... was carrying a gun, you would report that to the police," he said. | |
| Mr Denham's department issued new guidance in August telling councils to broaden their strategy to include a rise in right-wing racism. | Mr Denham's department issued new guidance in August telling councils to broaden their strategy to include a rise in right-wing racism. |
| In a speech to councils on Tuesday, Mr Denham is expected to say that phrases or titles such as Preventing Violent Extremism can be quietly dropped if local officials think they will be a barrier to getting things done. | In a speech to councils on Tuesday, Mr Denham is expected to say that phrases or titles such as Preventing Violent Extremism can be quietly dropped if local officials think they will be a barrier to getting things done. |
| He is also expected to concede that Prevent's lack of clarity has contributed to fear and confusion that the government has been attempting to impose a system of overt monitoring. | |
| Mr Denham will tell officials who administer Prevent schemes that they will work only if Muslim groups know that their concerns are being listened to - and that they are "full partners" in tackling violent ideology. | Mr Denham will tell officials who administer Prevent schemes that they will work only if Muslim groups know that their concerns are being listened to - and that they are "full partners" in tackling violent ideology. |