Template Letter to Councillors - Scrap Prevent

Dear [Councillor Name],

I am writing to you as a constituent of your ward, [insert ward name], about my concerns regarding the government’s Prevent Duty.

As Amnesty International UK’s 2023 report found, the policy is racist, discriminatory, and responsible for multiple human rights violations. It discriminates against Muslims and entrenches the idea of Muslims as a ‘suspect community’; interferes with the right to privacy and family life; and has had a chilling effect’ on the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association and peaceful assembly; and has negatively affected the rights to education and health.

The report found that 50% of children reported are of Asian or Muslim heritage, Muslims are reported to Prevent 8 times more than non-Muslims, and children under 15 account for 29% of Prevent referrals. 87% of referrals are not escalated to the Channel programme.

The Prevent duty relies on teachers, healthcare workers, social care workers, and other public sector workers to report based on ‘gut feeling’ – a completely subjective notion, with very vaguely defined criteria.

As it discriminates against people of colour, neurodiverse people, and children, and violates multiple human rights, with no proof of its effectiveness in preventing ‘terrorism’, I believe the Prevent duty must be scrapped.

I would be grateful to know what your position on the Prevent duty is, and whether you would be open to speaking further about this with me and the Amnesty Anti-Racism Network.

Kind regards,

[your name]

[your address]