The Prevent anti-terror programme review found that the individual who killed MP Sir David Amess was released too quickly.
Sir David was fatally stabbed by Ali Harbi Ali, an ISIS supporter, during a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea in October 2021.
Ali, who received a whole-life sentence, had been radicalized by ISIS propaganda and had been previously referred to the Prevent programme before the attack. However, his case was closed five years prior to the incident.
Despite following mostly the Prevent policy and guidance at the time, the review revealed that his case was closed prematurely, as stated by security minister Dan Jarvis in the House of Commons.
Following a recent review of Prevent’s handling of the Southport child killer Axel Rudakubana, Mr Jarvis announced the release of a Prevent learning review regarding Sir David’s killing this week to uphold transparency regarding the anti-terror programme.
Matt Juke, head of counter-terrorism policing, emphasized that the management of Ali’s case by Prevent could have been better, and it is crucial for the review’s recommendations to be implemented to prevent similar tragedies.
Ali Harbi Ali was referred to Prevent twice before he stabbed Sir David to death. Pic: Met Police
The review outlined:
• Ali was initially referred to Prevent in 2014 by his school due to concerning changes in his behavior and aspirations.
• He was promptly assessed and referred to Channel, a part of the Prevent programme focused on preventing extremism.
• His case was closed prematurely by Prevent, just five months after being assessed as low-risk for terrorism.
• Subsequent police review found no terrorism concerns a year later, leading to case closure. Delays in updating due to IT issues were noted.
• Prevent’s protocol includes reviews at six and twelve months post-release.
• There were shortcomings in the assessment of Ali’s vulnerabilities, with inadequate support provided to address underlying issues.
• Documentation of decisions and rationale lacked clarity, with some decisions not explicitly explained.
• Ali’s school was not actively involved in risk assessment discussions, receiving minimal updates on the case.
• Miscommunication led to a reduced number of intervention sessions being conducted.
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Is the Prevent programme fit for purpose?
The review confirmed that many of the mistakes made in Ali’s case would not occur under current guidelines and requirements.
Improvements include better communication with referrers, clear roles for different agencies, improved record-keeping practices, and revised guidelines for identifying underlying vulnerabilities.
Regarding an intervention session with Ali at McDonald’s, the review noted a breakdown in communication that prevented further meetings, which would not happen under present training standards.
Challenges remain with the Vulnerability Assessment Form and case progression.
The decision by the College of Police to retain Prevent case data for only five years may present challenges, as deleting Ali’s case material would have hindered the review.
Katie Amess, Sir David’s daughter, expressed support for the review but emphasized the need for inquiries into all Prevent failures, not just those in Southport.
She believes that a public inquiry following her father’s murder could have prevented subsequent Prevent failings.
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