SACC asks for response to our letter on Prevent

A week ago, SACC wrote to Nicola Sturgeon asking for the Scottish Government's response to our Open letter about the Prevent Programme. We said:

"Dear First Minister,

I am writing on behalf of Scotland Against Criminalising Communities (SACC). We have a wide range of concerns over the UK Government’s Prevent programme. SACC has campaigned for a number of years for the programme to be scrapped, and for individuals and organisations to avoid working with it.

As you know, the statutory Prevent Duty Guidance for Scotland will come into effect on 1 July. Under the terms of the UK Government’s commencement order, the guidance will not for the moment apply to universities and FE colleges, but will apply to schools, local authorities and the NHS.

While lacking statutory force in universities and FE colleges, the Prevent programme may of course still be implemented there. SACC welcomes the recent decision by the University and College Union (UCU) to boycott Prevent.

The Prevent Duty Guidance is principally concerned with counter-terrorism policy, which is not a devolved matter. However, it necessarily also concerns a wide range of matters that are devolved to the Scottish Government. Under the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015, the UK Government is required to consult with Scottish Ministers over the guidance.

The Prevent Duty Guidance for Scotland has been issued jointly by the UK and Scottish Governments, as can be seen from its front cover.

I enclose a copy of our Open Letter on Prevent, as published on our website. I would be grateful if you could let me know your response to the letter."