The ‘Lessons for Prevent’ report published Wednesday by the UK Interim Independent Prevent Commissioner Lord Anderson, cuts to the heart of the fundamental issues challenging policy responses to violent extremism amid a dramatically shifting threat landscape.

ISD is pleased to have our threat analysis and policy recommendations reflected in the report’s recommendations. 

Following the conviction of the Southport attacker in January, ISD published a policy analysis outlining how a new approach to prevention might better capture non-ideological related threats. These recommendations are reflected in a more contextualised vision for violence prevention, termed “the big front door” by Lord Anderson (recommendation 3).  

We are also pleased to see much needed attention on the need for greater focus on prevention in online spaces, as well as the importance of deeper engagement with young people in intervention design.

ISD has long produced cutting-edge analysis and policy advisory support around the contemporary extremist landscape. This work includes: 

• In-depth insights on non-ideologically motivated mass violence (such as the Southport attacker), including nihilistic violence and ‘Com networks’ such as 764.  
• Our recent evidence to the Home Affairs Committee inquiry on combatting new forms of extremism urged government to move beyond solely-ideology focused approaches.  
• Social media has fundamentally altered the extremism landscape: it is increasingly characterised by decentralised online networks and hybridised ideologies rather than formalised groups.  
• Young people in particular are increasingly involved in extremist online networks and being mobilised to violence.  
• Our 2024 policy paper evidences the evolving UK extremism landscape and the need for a rights-based comprehensive mass violence prevention infrastructure. 

ISD experts are available to provide media commentary.