Home Office and police not acting to identify potential harms of Prevent programme, including for autistic people, says Rights & Security International

The Prevent programme is part of a broader government counter-terrorism strategy, but people referred to the programme do not need to be suspected of intending to engage in any type of violence. Channel is a multi-agency follow-on programme from Prevent.

RSI argues that a 2021 report it obtained on autism and Channel commissioned by the Home Office raises concerns about the potential discriminatory impact of the programme on autistic people. Having also obtained and analysed previously undisclosed Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) carried out in 2023, RSI is concerned that the government is not adequately addressing the risk of what it believes is an over-reporting of autistic people that the government was aware of as a result of the 2021 report.

RSI considers that the limited information available on those who come into contact with Prevent and Channel should mean the government is aware of the potentially disproportionate numbers of autistic people – including children – being referred.

In legal correspondence with RSI, the Home Office has indicated that data about the protected characteristics of referred persons is often not available and existing Prevent and Channel data does not allow for a comprehensive analysis of all protected characteristics of individuals referred.

RSI also believes it has found a concerning rise in the volume of referrals for which data on the race of the person referred is not included.

The organisation has been raising concerns about the government’s approach to collecting and analysing information about the protected characteristics of people who come into contact with the Prevent and Channel programme since 2023. It argues that if the government does not collect and analyse this type of data properly and consistently, authorities managing these programmes cannot know their impact, including on particular racial groups and disabled people.

RSI has argued in its letter before action that the failure to collect adequate data to support equality monitoring constitutes a breach of the Home Secretary and police’s Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED).

PSED is a duty to have “due regard” to the equality objectives in section 149 of the Equality Act, which include the need to: eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people who share protected characteristics and those who do not. The PSED is a continuing duty and requires public bodies to monitor equality impacts of their policies and programmes.

As part of its letter, the human rights organisation has asked for a formal Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) meeting to try and resolve its concerns.

RSI’s letter also seeks to ascertain what measures the Home Office and the police have taken or plan to take to address their concerns.

RSI is represented by Carolin Ott, a senior associate solicitor in Leigh Day’s human rights department.

Sarah St Vincent, Executive Director of RSI said:

“We believe the documents we have obtained suggest that the government is taking a casual and even careless approach to understanding the impact of Prevent on autistic people and minoritised racial groups in Britain. That is not acceptable.

“We also believe the government needs to seriously rethink its approach to the Prevent programme, and in the meantime, authorities need to properly monitor the programme’s equality impact.”

Carolin Ott said:

“Our client has serious concerns about the government’s monitoring of equality data for those affected by the Prevent programme and believes that changes are needed to ensure compliance with the Equality Act.

“There is an ongoing debate about the appropriateness of the Prevent programme and its potentially disproportionate impact on minority groups. Our client believes that the data it has obtained bolsters its argument that the government needs to change its approach and has asked for a constructive meeting with officials to discuss steps that can be taken to address its concerns.”