麻豆社

Hundreds of NHS patients and staff have been referred to the government's controversial counter-terrorism scheme Prevent.

Since July last year public sector employees like social workers, teachers and NHS staff - have been required to identify those individuals deemed at risk of being drawn into terrorism. 5 live Investigates can reveal for the first time that 420 NHS staff and patients have been referred to Prevent since the new rules came in. That's up from just 64 referrals the year before. Critics say the Prevent strategy has made public sector workers over-zealous and innocent people are being caught up in a climate of suspicion. Not only that, but there may be people with genuine mental health problems who are being deterred from seeking help because they're worried they'll be reported.