Prevent strategy expert gives evidence to Australian Royal Commission
Professor Paul Thomas, an expert in terrorism prevention policy at the University of Huddersfield, has given evidence before the Australian Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
Appearing via video link, the Professor of Youth and Policy in the University’s School of Business, Education and Law, presented a report commissioned by the public inquiry, which was set up in the wake of the Sydney terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in December 2025.
His longstanding research into the implementation of policy around the prevention of violent extremism, community cohesion and youth racial tensions, led to him being invited to answer a series of questions from the Commission.
Professor Thomas, of the University’s Huddersfield Centre for Research in Education and Society (HudCRES), has researched the UK’s counterterrorism Prevent strategy since it began. He has also been part of the first national empirical study on the implementation of the Prevent duty within schools and colleges in England, which took place in 2016/17.
Firstly, he was asked to outline the UK’s Prevent strategy, which aims to counter extremism. Introduced in 2003, it includes programmes such as Channel, which supports people at risk of radicalisation, and ACT Early, a campaign and helpline for those concerned that a friend or family member may be vulnerable to radicalisation.
Professor Thomas spoke about how his research found that family members, friends and other trusted contacts are often the first to notice signs that someone may be becoming involved in violent extremism.
The international studies he has been a part of helped shape the ACT Early campaign, launched in 2020 to support people concerned about a loved one and encourage early intervention through information, advice and specialist support.
Drawing on the UK experience, the professor argued that Australia could benefit from similar approaches to practitioner training and community reporting, while recognising the challenges of implementing a consistent system across a federal structure.
Professor Thomas commented: “In my evidence session with the Royal Commission I was able to share the findings from our groundbreaking international research around community members reporting possible terrorism involvement by people known to them, as well as our important national research around how British educators are implementing the Prevent counter-terrorism duty.”
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion was established in January 2026 and began hearing evidence the following month. It is due to deliver its final report in December 2026.