Prevent chief departs after damning inquiry over Southport attack

Michael Stewart had led counter-terrorism programme since 2020, and reviews exposed its basic failures

The head of the government’s controversial counter-terrorism programme Prevent is leaving his position after a damning inquiry revealed the strategy’s failures in relation to the Southport attack.

Michael Stewart had spearheaded the programme – which aims to to stop people from becoming involved in or supporting terrorism – since September 2020.