Preventing violent extremism: perceptions of policy from grassroots and communities

This article examines the implementation of the UK’s ‘Prevent Strategy’ for countering terrorist risks and threats. Informed by qualitative data, it critically assesses the perception and reception ‘on the ground’ of Prevent Strategy policies amongst those individuals who are, in many ways, the focus of such interventions. It is found that there are a number of grievances held, though three are of particular concern and revolve around funding issues, confusion of the overarching aims of the strategy, and suspicions of intelligence gathering and spying within Muslim communities.