Paper petition details
Defend Free Speech and Democracy
That situation has become more acute because the UK government is
giving political and material support to the Israeli government in
the conflict that is inflicting death and suffering on the
Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip and the occupied West
Bank.
The people of Tower Hamlets are showing great resilience at this difficult time. Many have demonstrated their support and sympathy for the Palestinian people, but we are still fearful of the consequences. Many of the borough’s Muslim parents are worried that a child’s innocent comment could lead to them being hauled before Prevent. In some situations Muslim community members and parents have come together to resist the threat of Prevent, as happened recently in our neighbouring borough, Waltham Forest, but in most cases we feel too isolated to do that.
At the same time, we know that many of Tower Hamlets educators, social workers etc feel unhappy and compromised by Prevent, regardless of their religion or ethnic identity.
Therefore, we call on Tower Hamlets’ Mayor Lutfur Rahman and Tower Hamlets’ Council to:
2. Call a meeting or and a series of local meetings in Tower Hamlets for members of the community to speak about our experience with Prevent, and publish the findings of such meetings.
On reaching 30 signatures Eligible to present to Council
This Paper petition was received on 23/04/2024.
53 people signed this Paper petition.
This is a paper petition received by the council. It has never been available for signature online.
Council response
Thank you for your petition presented to the Council on the 8 May
2024.
Since the start of the conflict in the Middle East, the Council
have been aware of emerging concerns in some parts of the community
that there may be a potential for misplaced or misguided referrals
to Prevent. The Council has a well embedded and robust multi-agency
assessment process for all referrals to Prevent to ensure they are
correctly made, are proportionate and meet the relevant legal
thresholds.
The Council has an extensive programme of community engagement
activity with regard to Prevent and has done for a number of years.
Much of this activity is focused on dispelling myths about Prevent
and building trust and confidence in the agenda.
The Home Office in their last performance assessment of the Council
graded Prevent delivery in the borough with regard to both our
referral process and community engagement very highly.
If residents have concerns they can raise those individually with
the Council or through the newly introduced Standards and
Compliance Unit (StaCU) which is part of the Commission for
Countering Extremism and has been created in response to
recommendation 34 of the Independent Review of Prevent.
We do not consider convening a meeting or series of meetings to
discuss Prevent to be necessary or appropriate at this time.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Baxter
Corporate Director - Communities