The Home Secretary has said the Prevent programme is being reviewed to ensure it is fit for purpose as it is claimed the suspect in the murder of Sir David Amess

The Home Secretary has said the Prevent programme is being reviewed to ensure it is fit for purpose as it is claimed the suspect in the murder of Sir David Amess 'had been referred' to the scheme.

Priti Patel said the independent review of the programme, which is aimed at stopping people from being radicalised, would help 'address any gaps' in the service.

It comes after reports that the prime suspect in the murder of Sir David Amess was known to counter-terror police and it is believed he had been referred to the Prevent programme. 

The Southend West MP was stabbed to death at a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on Friday afternoon.

Scotland Yard have since designated the incident as a terror attack and counter-terror officers are leading the investigation, probing motives linked to Islamist extremism.

The Home Secretary Priti Patel has said the Prevent programme is being reviewed to ensure it is fit for purpose in the wake of the death of MP Sir David Amess. Pictured: Police teams search the home of suspect 25-year-old Ali Harbi Ali in Kentish Town, north London, this morning

A 25-year-old British Somali man - named last night as Ali Harbi Ali, the son of a former communications adviser to the prime minister of Somalia - is currently in police custody on suspicion of murder after being arrested at the scene. 

Whitehall officials have revealed the primary suspect was not on any official terror database, reports the BBC.

But multiple reports suggest the 25-year-old was known to counter-terror police and had been referred to the programme prior to the attack. 

Sources told the Guardian that the suspect has the same details as someone who was referred to the Prevent programme - set up by counterterrorism bosses to stop vulnerable people from being radicalised by extremists. 

Prevent involves local authorities and police and sees potential targets for radicalisation referred and assessed.

If they are deemed a terrorism risk, they may be referred to the Home Office's Channel Programme or given help from a mentor. In some cases police will intervene.

Priti Patel today insisted MPs must keep meeting voters as she hinted that police will guard weekly surgeries - and refused to rule out ending anonymity on social media to curb threats

Asked about a review of the programme, Priti Patel told Sky News: 'Prevent is going through an independent review right now.

'It's timely to do that, we have to learn, we obviously constantly have to learn, not just from incidences that have taken place but how we can strengthen our programmes.'

She added: 'We want to ensure that it is fit for purpose, robust, doing the right thing. 

'But importantly learning lessons, always building upon what is working and addressing any gaps or issues where the system needs strengthening.'

With an annual budget of around £40 million, the Prevent scheme aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

It was launched after public bodies were placed under a statutory duty in 2015 to stop people being drawn into terrorism.

Pictured: A plain-clothed police officer enters a house believed to be an address belonging to the 25-year-old man arrested in connection with the killing of David Amess on Sunday morning

Anyone concerned that someone they know might be at risk can refer them.

Last night, detectives were granted a warrant of further detention, allowing them to keep the suspect in custody until Friday.

Police officers were yesterday standing guard outside the North London council house where Ali lives.

It is in a street of £2 million three-storey townhouses where neighbours include broadcaster Giles Coren and, formerly, the late actor Roger Lloyd Pack, who played Trigger in Only Fools And Horses.

Sir David, 69, who had been an MP since 1983, met the public every fortnight and advertised the details on his parliamentary website.

Shortly before his killing, one Minister told the Mail on Sunday that the Government feared a wave of fresh terror attacks as the country emerged from the Covid pandemic, due to an 'epidemic' of 'bedroom radicals' who spent lockdown hunched over computers plotting atrocities.

It is understood the suspect lived in Sir David's Southend West constituency after his family came to the UK from Somalia in the 1990s.

Sir David Amess, 69 (pictured outside his surgery earlier this month), was stabbed 'multiple times' by a man as he spoke to constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea

Police officers have, today, been pictured searching three addresses in London including the home of suspect Ali Harbi Ali in Kentish Town, north London.

They are also searching his laptop and phone and quizzing his associates to establish any potential extremism links. 

Earlier today, the Home Secretary said it would be unacceptable for the murder of Tory veteran David Amess to 'break the link between an elected representative and their democratic role, responsibility and duty to the people who elected them'.

She confirmed that security has already been ramped up since the deadly attack with politicians reminded to share their locations with police.

The government is looking at ensuring every MP gets officers on guard at their surgeries - a move backed by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle.

Ms Patel also said the government is 'looking at' whether there needs to be more action to stop threats and abuse being posted anonymously online.