THE government’s Prevent strategy is being called into question yet again after police documents revealed that Extinction Rebellion (XR) had been designated an “extremist ideology.” 

Human rights groups, politicians and activists were quick to condemn the inclusion of the non-violent movement in a guide produced by counter-terrorism police in south-east England. 

The guide urged people to look out for anyone using “strong or emotive terms about environmental issues like climate change, ecology, species extinction, fracking, airport expansion or pollution.”

Police scrambled over the weekend to recall the guide, which was exposed on Friday by the Guardian, claiming the classification was an “error of judgement.” 

However civil rights group Liberty argued that the move bolstered long-standing concerns that the government’s counter-terrorism strategy was “fundamentally flawed.” 

“This is a startling example of how Prevent stifles free speech, labels dissent as dangerous and gives the police sweeping powers to monitor non-violent, non-criminal behaviour,” said Liberty spokesperson Claire Collier.

“The definition of extremism under Prevent is fundamentally flawed and so wide that thousands — including children — are swept up by it.”

Prevent is the government’s anti-radicalisation programme, rolled out in 2011.

Since then it has received wide criticism for disproportionately targeting Muslims and breaking down trust between students and teachers, who are legally obliged to report pupils showing signs of “radicalisation.”

Amnesty International said the listing of XR in the Prevent guide also supported its concerns. 

“This episode only adds to our existing concerns about Prevent, which is a highly dubious scheme sorely in need of a proper, independent and impartial review,” said Amnesty campaigns director Kerry Moscogiuri.

A review into Prevent, expected this year, has also received criticism for possible bias. 

Last month its chair was forced to step down, after a legal challenge brought by Rights Watch UK.

The group had opposed the appointment of Lord Carlile by the Home Office on the basis he had previously expressed strong support for the programme. 

The lord is also a patron of UK Lawyers for Israel, a powerful lobbying group which last November hosted a far-right Israeli NGO event in London. 

At the time Palestine Solidarity Campaign said it had “major concerns” about Lord Carlile heading the review while “being the patron of a charity that is hosting an extremist organisation.”