Written question asked by Lord Goodman of Wycombe (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 December 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 December 2008. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Monday, 12 January 2009 on behalf of the Home Office.

Community Relations

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which areas (a) have set up multi-agency partnerships focused on preventing violent extremism, referred to on page 9 of the report The Prevent Strategy: A Guide for Local Partners in England published in June 2008, (b) have set up groups focused specifically on the Prevent Strategy and (c) are using an existing group, such as a Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership or Local Strategic Partnership.

Answer: Government offices provide information on Prevent partnership working each quarter for the 78 areas that received preventing violent extremism funding this financial year as part of their area based grant. The last return provided in September 2008 reported that 60 of these areas had a multi-agency Prevent partnership in place. We do not specifically request information on whether the named partnership is a new group but we understand that most areas have decided that an existing partnership, such as a crime and disorder reduction partnership or local strategic partnership, should be tasked to oversee their work on Prevent at a strategic level.Government offices continue to work with local areas to ensure that effective delivery arrangements are in place and are providing challenge and guidance to those areas that have yet to agree a multi-agency partnership to lead on Prevent.

Secondary information