International Conference On Terrorist Rehabilitation

PANEL DISCUSSION IV
Session II
Terrorist Rehabilitation: Challenges Facing the United Kingdom
Mr. Tony Heal, Deputy Head of the PREVENT Section Office
of Security and Counter Terrorism, The Home Office, United
Kingdom (U.K.), presented on Britain’s CONTEST strategy.
Mr. Heal said the strategy consists of four pillars: PURSUE,
PREPARE, PROTECT and PREVENT. They aim to reduce the
risk of terrorism and extremism to the U.K. and its interests
overseas from international terrorism. Mr. Heal noted that
many of the counter-terrorism measures and activities
under PURSUE, PREPARE and PROTECT focus on disrupting
terrorist attacks. On the other hand, de-radicalization as a
counter-terrorism tool would include programmes such
as detainee rehabilitation, which constituted the PREVENT
aspect of Britain’s CONTEST strategy.
Mr. Heal pointed out that in the U.K., Muslims constitute
a diverse minority and numbered about two million out
of a population of 61 million. Muslims in the U.K. are
multi-generational, multi-denominational, multi-cultural
and multi-lingual, and are mostly concentrated in the
inner circles. It is important to consider these facts when
embarking on de-radicalization programmes and ensuring
that the programmes are directed at this aspect while
seeking to rehabilitate detained extremists or radicals.
Mr. Heal then elaborated on the PREVENT aspect of the
U.K.’s CONTEST strategy. PREVENT aims to undermine
extremist ideology, disrupt violent extremist activity,
support vulnerable individuals and/or create mechanisms
for supporting them. It also aims to increase the resilience of
communities to resist violent extremists, and to effectively
address grievances by developing research, intelligence
and analysis capabilities, as well as by improving strategic
communications. Mr. Heal noted that most of the
objectives are directed at the societal, institutional and
community levels. Most of the objectives are also mainly
delivered through administrative and civil measures like
engagement and challenge.
In conclusion, Mr. Heal gave everyone a glimpse of what
he thought would work and matter when one embarks
on a disengagement campaign. First, the results would
be judged by what individuals do or do not do, and not
what the practitioners and facilitators think they think.
Second, disengagement from extremism covers several
modes of behaviour. Third, there is no reliable data as
yet about what works. Finally, all intervention projects
are being evaluated and disengagement indicators are
being developed. Quoting former Prime Minister Tony
Blair, “What matter is what works,” Mr. Heal noted that
the disengagement programmes would be judged by
this criterion. But he emphasized that in the prevention
paradigm, symbolism matters as much as instrumentality.
This includes doing what is morally right even if we are not
sure that it would be effective; upholding civilized values
against barbaric behaviour; and giving citizens who have
gone astray a chance to rejoin the fold. Mr. Heal said that
the most effective counter to the single narrative may not
be to point out its historical and theological errors but
to contrast against our values and their application, like
freedom, the rule of law, respect for human life, decency
and civilized behaviour.
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THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TERRORIST REHABILITATION