Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Neil Basu calls Prevent review an 'insult to counter-terrorism professional'

The former counter-terror chief disagreed to the finding that Prevent concentrated mainly on far right rather than Islamist extremism.

Neil Basu calls Prevent review an 'insult to counter-terrorism professional'

Former head of counter-terrorism in UK has called the government-backed review of Prevent scheme an 'insult' to professionals fighting to stop terrorist attacks in the country as the report was driven by ‘rightwing viewpoint’.

Neil Basu, who was head of counter-terrorism policing until 2021, disagreed to the finding that Prevent concentrated mainly on far right rather than Islamist extremism, reported The Guardian.


Launched in 2007, Prevent is a strand of the British government's counter-terrorism strategy that aims to safeguard and support those vulnerable to radicalisation, to stop them from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

"The review is driven by a rightwing viewpoint that XRWT (extreme rightwing terrorism) is either unimportant or doesn’t really exist. The head of MI5 says it’s 20 per cent of the work they do, so I would listen to him," Basu was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

William Shawcross submitted the Prevent review this week with 34 recommendations and the government accepted all of them.

According to the review, Prevent failed to stop non-violent Islamist extremism and exhibits double standard while dealing with extreme right wing and Islamism.

Meanwhile, Basu argued that the threat from the far right was very real and the system had been too slow to realise the danger.

“It’s insulting to any counter-terrorism professional to suggest they’d put any particular ideology over another. It’s about how they risk-assess the initial intelligence of the potential for violence and how it is then dealt with afterwards," he told the newspaper.

He pointed out that Prevent’s work tackling mental health and other vulnerabilities was essential to stem the flow of terrorists.

Experts in countering far-right terrorism and Amnesty International have also expressed similar concerns as Basu's.

Nick Lowles, of Hope Not Hate, told The Guardian:“Counter-terrorism policy should not prioritise one form of extremism over another. There must be an evidence-based approach that takes action based on the level of risk posed by extremists, regardless of ideology.”

Amnesty International said that errors and plain anti-Muslim prejudice are rampant in the report.

“William Shawcross’s history of bigoted comments on Muslims and Islam should have precluded his involvement in this ill-starred review in the first place. There’s mounting evidence that Prevent has specifically targeted Muslim communities and activists fighting for social justice and a host of crucial international issues – including topics like the climate crisis and the oppression of Palestinians," Ilyas Nagdee, Amnesty International UK’s racial justice director, was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Statistics from Prevent also tell a similar story as referrals because of extreme rightwing radicalisation (20 per cent) were higher than Islamist referrals (16 per cent) between April 2021 to March 2022 for the second year in a row.

DCS Maria Lovegrove, counter-terrorism policing’s national Prevent lead, said: “The terrorist threats we face now are very different to when Prevent began, and a strong collective approach is absolutely vital if we are to keep up with this changing landscape and its growing dimensions,” she said.

Prevent receives £40 million funding to help steer people away from extremism. According to the government, Prevent has already changed and saved the lives of individuals from all walks of life, with over 3,800 people offered early interventions through the Channel programme.

More For You

Police officers

Police officers stand guard between an anti fascist group and Tommy Robinson supporters during an anti-immigration rally organised by British anti-immigration activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, in London, Britain, September 13, 2025.

REUTERS/Jaimi Joy

UK defends France migrant returns deal after court blocks first removal

THE British government has defended its new migrant returns deal with France after a High Court ruling temporarily blocked the deportation of an Eritrean asylum seeker, marking an early legal setback to the scheme.

The 25-year-old man, who arrived in Britain on a small boat from France on August 12, was due to be placed on an Air France flight from Heathrow to Paris on Wednesday (17) morning. But on Tuesday (16), Judge Clive Sheldon granted an interim injunction, saying there was a “serious issue to be tried” over his claim to be a victim of trafficking.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian surgeon sentenced to six years for sexual assault

Dr Amal Bose. (Photo: Lancashire Police)

Asian surgeon sentenced to six years for sexual assault

AN ASIAN senior heart surgeon, who abused his position to sexually assault female members of staff, has been jailed for six years.

Dr Amal Bose, from Lancaster, was convicted of 12 counts of sexual assault against five colleagues at Blackpool Victoria Hospital between 2017 and 2022. He was cleared of two other charges.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi & Trump

Donald Trump and Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House on February 13, 2025.

Reuters

Trump greets Modi on 75th birthday, trade talks continue in Delhi

Highlights:

  • Both leaders reaffirm commitment to India-US partnership
  • Trade talks resume in New Delhi amid tariff tensions
  • India defends purchase of discounted Russian oil

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump on Tuesday called Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and greeted him ahead of his 75th birthday. The phone call sparked hopes of a reset in India-US ties, which had been under strain after Washington doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent.

Keep ReadingShow less
11th UK Gatka Championship

All winners received medals and trophies

UK Parliament

11th UK Gatka Championship ends with Welsh debut and £1,000 support for Gatka Akharas

Highlights:

  • The 11th UK National Gatka Championship was hosted near Cardiff, marking the first time in Wales.
  • Winners included Roop Kaur (girls), Navjot Singh (boys), and Gurdeep Singh (men’s).
  • Gatka Federation UK awarded £1,000 to each participating Akhara to support martial arts promotion.
  • Chief guests included MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation.

Gatka Championship marks Welsh debut

The 11th UK National Gatka Championship concluded on a high note near Cardiff, Wales, showcasing the traditional Sikh martial art with flair. Seven leading Gatka Akharas participated, thrilling spectators with their lightning-fast strikes, precision moves and elegant techniques.

Inauguration by global leaders

The tournament was inaugurated by Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation (WGF) and the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI). He was joined by Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP, President of Gatka Federation UK, alongside other dignitaries including Jagbir Singh Jagga Chakar, President of Wales Kabaddi Club, and community leaders from the Haveli Hotel Pontyclun.

Keep ReadingShow less
Vantara

The site, located in Gujarat, houses hundreds of elephants, as well as 50 bears, 160 tigers, 200 lions, 250 leopards, and 900 crocodiles. (Photo: Instagram/Vantara)

India court probe clears Ambani family’s animal centre

AN INDIAN Supreme Court-ordered investigation has cleared a large private animal facility run by the son of Asia’s richest man, rejecting allegations of wildlife violations.

Vantara, described as the “world’s biggest wild animal rescue centre,” is operated by Anant Ambani, son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani.

Keep ReadingShow less