Southport attack: next steps statement. 'Prevent' section
Oral statement to Parliament
Southport attack: next steps
The Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has given an update on the actions the government will take including the creation of an independent public inquiry.
From: Home Office and The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP
Published 21 January 2025
"With permission Mr Speaker, I will make a statement on the Southport murders."
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"Firstly, on Prevent.
The government and Counter Terrorism Policing jointly commissioned an immediate prevent learning review during the summer, and I will publish detailed findings following the sentencing.
The 3 referrals took place between 3 and 4 years before the Southport attack, including following evidence he was expressing interest in school shootings, the London Bridge attack, the IRA, MI5, and the Middle East.
On each occasion, Rudakubana’s case was assessed by Counter Terrorism Policing, but in each instance, there was no onward referral to specialist channel support.
The learning review has concluded that the referrals should not have been closed, and that cases such as these, given his age and complex needs, should be referred to channel.
It concludes that too much weight was placed on the absence of ideology, without considering the vulnerabilities to radicalisation, or taking account of whether he was “obsessed with massacre or extreme violence.” And the cumulative significance of those 3 repeat referrals was not properly considered.
Mr Speaker, the Prevent programme is vital for our national security. Its officers work with huge dedication to keep us safe.
But we need it to be effective.
Some changes have already been made since 2021 including new Prevent duty guidance, new training for frontline workers on radicalisation, and stronger policy on repeat referrals.
In September 2024, a new Prevent assessment framework was launched, supplemented by robust training for all Prevent police officers.
But these changes do not go far enough.
Given the importance of the programme, I cannot understand how it has been allowed to operate for so long without proper independent oversight.
That is why I announced before Christmas the introduction of a new independent Prevent Commissioner with power to review cases and ensure standards are being met.
I am today appointing Lord David Anderson KC as the interim Prevent Commissioner, to start work immediately and his first task will be to conduct a thorough review of the Prevent history in this case to identify what changes are needed to make sure serious cases are not missed, particularly where there is mixed and unclear ideology.
I have also tasked my department to conduct an end-to-end review of Prevent thresholds including on Islamist extremism where referrals have previously been too low.
We are also looking at cases where mental ill-health or neurodivergence is a factor. And developing new arrangements with other agencies which may not meet the threshold for channel support but where violent behaviour urgently must be addressed."
Continues. See link :-
Southport attack: next steps - GOV.UK
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