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Southport Attack 2025-02-05
05 February 2025
Lead MP
The Minister for Security
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
NHS
Other Contributors: 13
At a Glance
The Minister for Security raised concerns about southport attack 2025-02-05 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Today I am updating the House on the Government’s response to the tragic Southport murders that occurred in July last year, where three young girls were killed and several others injured. The perpetrator has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 52 years in prison. This attack raises serious questions about how various state agencies failed to identify and act upon warning signs before the incident. To address these issues comprehensively, the Government is committed to setting up a public inquiry that will examine this case as well as wider challenges around rising youth violence. The Prevent programme, which aims to identify individuals susceptible to radicalisation early on, has received nearly 7,000 referrals annually since 2015 and supported almost 5,000 people away from terrorism. However, the recent review of the Southport case highlighted that despite three referrals between 2019 and 2021, no action was taken under Prevent due to a lack of distinct ideology focus. The Government has accepted the recommendations for improvement and is implementing them urgently, including appointing Lord Anderson as an interim Prevent commissioner with oversight responsibilities.
Chris Philp
Con
Croydon South
Question
Will the announced inquiry be a statutory one to ensure it has powers to compel witnesses and obtain documents?
Minister reply
The Government is committed to ensuring that the inquiry has all necessary powers, including those under the Inquiries Act 2005.
Dan Jarvis
Lab
Southport
Question
The MP questioned if the inquiry would cover communications after the event and whether more should have been disclosed quickly. He also mentioned a spelling error in Rudakubana’s Prevent database record, raising concerns about implementation of review recommendations.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed that the inquiry will cover communication issues post-attack and assured that actions will be taken to implement review recommendations rapidly.
Lisa Smart
LD
Hazel Grove
Question
Asked about the role of the independent Prevent commissioner, whether it would be on a statutory footing, and measures to ensure watertight national security strategies.
Minister reply
The Minister stated that Lord Anderson will serve as an interim Prevent commissioner and work closely with him to establish the role. He also assured the effectiveness of national security agencies in keeping the public safe.
Paula Barker
Lab
Liverpool Wavertree
Question
Asked for assurance that the inquiry would look at how agencies talk to each other and assess threats together, and whether findings from previous independent Prevent learning reviews would be published.
Minister reply
The Minister assured that thorough scrutiny was given to the case through the coronial process and that similar incidents will receive comprehensive analysis.
Edward Leigh MP
Con
Gainsborough
Question
May I press the Minister further on transparency issues, specifically regarding ricin possession and terror manuals? Were decisions made to withhold information for reasons of racial tension or to prevent prejudicing a trial?
Minister reply
Ministers acted with consideration of avoiding contempt of court. The Home Secretary was informed about ricin possession on 2 August. Police investigations are fast-moving, and facts must be established without interfering with legal proceedings. We will review information management in future incidents.
Tulip Siddiq MP
Lab
Hampstead and Highgate
Question
How have conversations been held with social media companies regarding harmful content viewed by the perpetrator, which remained online for months?
Minister reply
The Government are clear that illegal content must be removed by tech companies. They will be required to identify and remove terrorist content swiftly under the Online Safety Act 2023, and further legislative measures may follow if necessary.
Julian Lewis MP
Con
New Forest East
Question
Will a presentation be made available on what happens in Prevent and Channel courses? Are there psychotic individuals who might still commit atrocities despite therapy?
Minister reply
A presentation will be arranged to provide insight into the courses. The Government are concerned about young people presenting with mental health, autism, or neurodivergence issues and are looking at pilot trials to manage data more effectively.
Mike Tapp MP
Lab
Dover and Deal
Question
Should the House unite on national security issues instead of playing political games? Did following legal advice lead to a successful prosecution?
Minister reply
The Government will always work in a constructive, cooperative way regarding national security. We ensured nothing was done that might interfere with ongoing proceedings and secure justice for victims.
Clive Betts MP
Lab
Sheffield South East
Question
How can the Minister address irresponsible social media behaviour in light of the tragic killing of Harvey Willgoose, where misleading comments and a video of CPR were shared?
Minister reply
Tech companies have a responsibility to keep users safe. Content like that described should not be available. The Government will raise concerns with tech companies about such issues.
Richard Tice MP
Reform
Boston and Skegness
Question
Does the review indicate that the killer was a terrorist, and are the Government clear in their acceptance of this as a terror incident?
Minister reply
The perpetrator has been found guilty of a terrorism-related offence and will be considered a registered terrorist offender subject to associated sentencing procedures.
Bayo Alaba MP
Lab
Southend East and Rochford
Question
Can the Minister assure that the Prevent learning review will provide answers for Sir David Amess's family, despite failures in agency communication?
Minister reply
Next week, we will publish the Prevent learning review of the attack on Sir David. The Home Secretary met Lady Amess recently and is grateful to the family for their important representations.
Fred Thomas
Lab
Plymouth Moor View
Question
The tragic events in Southport were horrific and the murderer should have been monitored better. Does the Minister agree that we must tackle disinformation online to prevent civil unrest?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes an important point about tackling disinformation online and ensuring a joined-up response to such incidents. We saw both the worst and the best of our country during these dark days, and it is crucial to remember the bravery of police officers who stood against threats.
Shadow Comment
Chris Philp
Shadow Comment
The shadow Home Secretary welcomes the inquiry announced by the Home Secretary but requests confirmation that it will be a statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 to ensure it has the necessary powers. He also highlights the need for further investigation into mental health interventions, as evidenced in both the Southport case and the recent NHS report on Valdo Calocane's triple murder case. Philp suggests that Rudakubana could have been sectioned under the Mental Health Act, potentially preventing the tragic outcome.
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