The Commonwealth initially believed that the mechanisms used for dangerous sex offenders could be applied to terrorism offenders, but this was not the case. The VERA-2R tool, used to assess the ongoing risk of terrorism offenders, has been criticized for its poor predictive validity. This tool was relied upon by the government, even though experts have raised concerns about its accuracy. Courts have begun to question the validity of the VERA-2R assessments, leading to a decrease in reliance on its findings. Despite this, the government continues to use the tool to justify the ongoing incarceration of individuals convicted of terrorism offences.
The issue surrounding the reliance on the VERA-2R tool came to light during the trial of Abdul Nacer Benbrika, a convicted terrorist. Dr. Emily Corner, an expert, highlighted the tool’s poor predictive validity in a report, which was not disclosed by the government’s lawyers. As a result, the credibility of the tool has been called into question, leading practitioners to limit its predictive capacity. The government’s use of the VERA-2R has raised concerns about the fairness of the legal process, with experts and politicians calling for the legislation allowing for the imprisonment of individuals based on the tool’s assessments to be abolished.
Despite criticisms of the VERA-2R tool, the government continues to rely on it to assess the risk posed by individuals convicted of terrorism offences. Experts have raised concerns about the lack of knowledge of the ideology behind terrorism among the experts using the tool, emphasizing the importance of having experts with relevant expertise in such cases. Courts have been urged to stop accepting expert opinions based on the VERA-2R and instead focus on experts with knowledge of the ideology behind terrorism.
Abdul Nacer Benbrika, who was released into the community subject to strict conditions, including a curfew, specific address residency, and engagement with de-radicalisation programs, has become a focal point in the debate over the use of the VERA-2R tool. Former Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has faced criticism for his handling of the case and the government’s reliance on the discredited tool. Legal experts and politicians across the political spectrum have called for the abolition of the legislation allowing for the imprisonment of individuals based on assessments from the VERA-2R.
The controversy surrounding the VERA-2R tool and its use in assessing the risk of individuals convicted of terrorism offences highlights the need for a more nuanced and accurate approach to risk assessment in such cases. Experts have pointed out the flaws in the tool’s predictive validity and emphasized the importance of using experts with relevant knowledge and expertise in assessing the risk of future offending. The ongoing debate over the use of the VERA-2R tool underscores the need for a more effective and fair legal process in dealing with individuals convicted of terrorism offences.
