Anti-terrorist programme Prevent ‘outdated and inadequately prepared’, report finds

Tributes paid on the anniversary of the Southport attack. A review last year found Prevent had ‘prematurely’ closed its case into the culprit, Axel Rudakubana. Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPA

The government’s anti-terrorism programme, Prevent, is “outdated and inadequately prepared” to deal with modern challenges such as extremists adhering to no particular ideology, an influential cross-party group of MPs has concluded.

The home affairs select committee has called for a reset to the approach for dealing with fast-evolving online subcultures promoting antisemitism, anti-Muslim hostility, misogyny and violence, as well as an over-representation of neurodiverse people and those with mental health conditions.