A Birmingham councillor has expressed serious concern over a reported reduction in funding for the Prevent counterterrorism programme, which he says has been slashed by almost £500,000 despite ongoing risks in the city.
Background on Prevent
Prevent is a national programme aimed at stopping people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. The Home Office allocates dedicated funds to local authorities with the highest threat levels to ensure susceptible individuals receive appropriate interventions and communities are protected from radicalising influences.
Funding cut details
According to reports in The Times, the amount spent by the Home Office on the government's counterterrorism strategy fell from £41 million in 2021-22 to £25 million this financial year. Birmingham now receives £255,000, down almost £500,000.
Birmingham Conservative councillor Alex Yip wrote to Security Minister Dan Jarvis MBE about the reduction, stating it comes despite well-documented and ongoing risks in the city.
In his letter, Councillor Yip acknowledged the challenging fiscal environment and that the Prevent Duty should be embedded across local authorities, but argued the current funding model does not reflect the scale, demand, and complexity of delivery in Birmingham.
Councillor's concerns
Councillor Yip argued that a flat funding cap results in a disproportionate reduction in real capability in larger areas like Birmingham, undermining effectiveness where it is most needed. He welcomed the opportunity to bid for additional funding through regional or project-based mechanisms but said these are not a substitute for stable, baseline funding reflecting structural need.
He emphasised that given Birmingham's scale, risk profile, and national significance, Prevent activity in the city must be properly and sustainably funded.
Home Office response
A Home Office spokesperson said the government is committed to tackling radicalisation and has significantly strengthened Prevent to ensure it can stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. They noted that Prevent is a legal duty for all local authorities and the Home Office provides additional funding to 27 areas where the risk is highest. All local authorities have access to a central project fund to address local radicalisation risks.
The Times reports that Prevent funds are separate from funding for local authorities to deliver their statutory duty to help prevent people from being drawn into terrorism, which is delivered through existing budgets.
