Farooq Siddique: A Muslim in Bristol

On Saturday, the Guardian newspaper published some revelations about the Government's counter terrorism strategy known as Prevent.

According to the revelations, Prevent is about spying on the Muslim communities even if no crime is suspected or committed. Youth workers, teachers, lecturers, community groups, mosques, Imams, everyone it seems, is being paid to gather intelligence on anyone with a Muslim name, practising or not, and passing that information to the security services.

Bristol is one of the 82 councils in the country where Prevent operates.

In my opinion, there is actually nothing wrong with the Government's Prevent strategy: it's very positive, it's about working with communities to protect vulnerable individuals, and address the root causes of radicalisation.

How it is being implemented on the ground in some areas, though, is cause for serious concern.

There can now be no doubt that the UK is facing a substantial threat from Al-Qaida-inspired extremism. It is not a conspiracy, it is not exaggerated, it is real – 7/7 was no mirage; Isa Ibrahim tried to do so in Bristol – only prevented from his horrendous plan by Bristol's Muslims. And that, in essence, is what Prevent is about.

But there is a context. The Muslim communities of the UK suffer from huge, multiple disadvantages. The fact is, we are amongst the poorest and the least affluent people, in the worst housing, with the lowest educational attainment, and the poorest health. It was not always like this. Among the many underlying causes is the "terrorist" label, leading to discrimination faced by the communities, which not only prevents success, but acts as an obstacle even when success is achieved. Al Qaida offers an easy answer, and the message resonates loudly: the West hates everything about Islam and Muslims.

Prevent is about challenging that message, because it's not true. Prevent is partly about addressing grievances, perceived or actual. It's also about creating a sense of belonging for vulnerable individuals.

The Muslim communities are the natural and in fact, willing partners in the Governments' Prevent strategy. But to get it right, local authorities need to have the trust of the Muslim communities. The Muslim communities need to be listened to, not lectured to. Where I have seen Prevent done badly, like the Guardian highlights, it's been because the Muslim communities have not been genuinely engaged.

The key to success in Prevent is partnership; local authorities must trust and value their Muslim communities as equal partners; the Muslim communities must view Prevent as an opportunity, not a conspiracy; anything less from either side, hands an easy victory to Al Qaida.