'Anti-terror scheme helps prevent attacks' says police chief

The government's "Prevent" strategy aimed at stopping violent extremism has become "a toxic brand", a former senior Muslim police officer has said.

Dal Babu, who retired as a Chief Superintendent with the Metropolitan Police in 2013, suggested some of the officers involved lacked basic knowledge of race and faith issues.

But Sir Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, said the scheme had succeeded in preventing terror attacks.

And he added that the best thing was for the community to work together on what was ''a difficult issue''.