RSIS Countering Extremism Conference

Sean Arbuthnot Latest News 25/09/2019

Prevent Coordinator Sean Arbuthnot has recently returned from a brief trip to Singapore where he spoke at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) workshop on “Countering Extremism: The Next Lap.” The conference featured a diverse and distinguished group of speakers as it focused on upstream counter extremism measures. Sean spoke about the UK’s Prevent strategy and the unique model of delivery based at St. Philips. He was joined on a panel by Chief Inspector Bill Knopp from the Leicestershire Police Prevent Team, and Manwar Ali, an intervention provider who has mentored many vulnerable, local Prevent referrals.

Among the many highlights of the trip was the opportunity to hear about the local response to the Christchurch terrorist attack from Anthony Green of Al Noor Mosque and Claire Phillips from Christchurch City Council. Sean was privileged to personally express condolences to them on behalf of everyone at St. Philips and they were very moved and grateful to hear about the hundreds of people who braved the rain to attend a vigil outside Masjid Umar following the tragedy.

Leicester vigil at Masjid Umar following Christchurch terror attack, March 2019