The country’s counter-terrorism measures including the law used to ban Palestine Action are being used too widely, and the anti-radicalisation scheme Prevent “is not fit for purpose”, a major review has found.
The Independent Commission on UK Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice found that the current official definition of terrorism is too broad and “extends beyond acts of violence or serious threat, creating uncertainty and overreach in its application”.
It said that measures used to ban groups such as Palestine Action should be restricted so that they are only used to protect the public from terrorism, and that proscription of terror groups should lapse after five years unless renewed.
The three-year review also said the way the Prevent scheme was being used had “blurred” its original purpose and the current approach was “not fit for purpose”.
“Prevent referrals increasingly involve individuals experiencing complex vulnerabilities, including mental ill health, social isolation, or neurodivergence, rather than clear terrorism-related risks,” it said.
