Prevent boss quits after Southport killer failures

The head of the government’s counterterror programme Prevent has reportedly stepped down after it was revealed that the Southport killer’s case was closed before the attack.

- ATHENA STAVROU

Michael Stewart has stepped down from his role at Prevent, following a review which revealed Axel Rudakubana’s case had been closed prematurely after he was referred three times between December 2019 and April 2021.

Rudakubana was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 52 years earlier this year for murdering Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July 2024.

He also attempted to murder eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as well as class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.

Three separate referrals were made to Prevent about Rudakubana’s behaviour in the years before the attack, as well as six separate calls to police.