Full Breakdown
British Mother Questioned Under Prevent After Pro-Israel Advocacy
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
In June of last year, Holly Passmore, a 44-year-old British mother of two, was visited at her home by two police officers. The officers said the visit stemmed from a referral to the United Kingdom’s Prevent counter-extremism programme because of Passmore’s public support for Israel. Passmore, who had recently travelled to Israel on a press trip with journalists and social-media influencers, said the officers asked only about her interest in “Jewish issues” and her visit to Israel, without discussing her disclosed health conditions.
Background & Context
Prevent is a UK government programme intended to identify individuals at risk of radicalisation. Passmore, who is pursuing a master’s degree in Holocaust studies at the University of Haifa, has publicly disclosed severe endometriosis, adenomyosis, ADHD and autism. She maintains that none of these conditions make her “vulnerable” in the sense used by the police. Passmore’s online presence began as a gossip-focused account about the Duchess of Sussex, later shifting to humanitarian advocacy, especially for women in Afghanistan. After the October 7 massacre, she used the same platform—now with over 28,000 followers—to condemn antisemitism and express solidarity with Jewish people.
Official Statements & Responses
A spokesperson for Counter Terrorism Policing North East declined to comment on the specific case.
Impact & Reactions
Passmore says the police visit and the Prevent label have raised concerns about the monitoring of lawful pro-Israel expression. She reported that officers asked whether she had ever been to Auschwitz, prompting her to emphasize that her interest in “Jewish issues” is personal and legal. The incident highlights ongoing debates over the scope of Prevent and the criteria used to deem individuals “vulnerable” to extremist influence.