WikiLeaks cables: The British counter-terror programme that 'fails to stop extremists'

Contest, the counter-terrorism strategy developed by the government in early 2003, is aimed at reducing the terrorist threat in the UK by seeking to bring encourage extremists back into the mainstream.

However, it has been accused of alienating and stigmatising Muslims and wasting taxpayers’ money funding groups that failed to deliver on the Government’s aims.

There has also been criticism that the Government was too late to intervene in the growing problem – despite being warned throughout the 1990s that the issue was reaching crisis point.

The most sensitive part of the counter-terrorism strategy relates to Prevent - which aims to address radicalisation.

In the past, the Home Office spent tens of millions of pounds funding youth groups and other projects to stop Muslims being radicalised.

However, a new strategy unveiled in 2009 led to a renewed emphasis on the importance of intelligence from within the Muslim community.

It also set out a tougher stance on non-violent conservative Muslim groups that teach that Islam is incompatible with Western democracy. It began to directly target imams.

The Coalition is reviewing the strategy – after the Conservatives were highly critical of its results in opposition.

Today’s disclosures will add to pressure on the Government to become more effective at addressing radicalisation as the Americans felt the need to introduce their own programmes.