United Kingdom· 2015In forceRestricts
UK Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 — Prevent Duty
Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (c.6) s.26–41
Protest rightsPeaceful assemblyProscription
Summary
Section 26 of the CTSA 2015 imposes a statutory duty on specified authorities (schools, universities, NHS, prisons, local authorities) to 'have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.' The Prevent duty has been criticised for creating a surveillance culture that disproportionately affects Muslim, Tamil, and other minority communities.
Relevance to the diaspora
Tamil students and community members in UK educational institutions and public services have been subject to Prevent referrals based on Tamil political expression (including discussing the Sri Lanka conflict or showing solidarity with Tamil political causes); the duty chills legitimate political education within the Tamil community.
Key provisions
- s.26 — Prevent duty on specified authorities
- s.29 — Prevent guidance (Secretary of State guidance is statutory)
- Schedule 6 — specified authorities
- Channel programme (s.36) — referral for support mechanism
Primary source
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/6/part/5Related entries
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