• Friday, March 29, 2024

Comment

Channel to ensure safety

By: JurmoloyaRava

PREVENT STRATEGY AIMS TO KEEP PEOPLE AWAY FROM EXTREMIST IDEOLOGY

 

by BEN WALLACE
Security minister

LAST week, we published extensive data on our counter-radicalisation strategy Prevent.

 

The figures showed that 7,631 individuals had been identified as at risk of being exploited or “groomed” into violent extremism.

After a review of the referrals, just over half were identified as needing extra support and protection. Those at risk of sexual or physical abuse were di­verted to other support. The remaining 1,072 who were viewed as being vulnerable to grooming by terrorists and their supporters were advanced to the Channel programme.

As a father of three children, I am agonised by the fact that the referrals contained so many young people. This is a sobering reminder that children and teenagers spend a huge amount of time online and we know that is the world where the purveyors of hate ply their trade. So we should not be sur­prised that the young are so affected, but we should be very concerned.

Prevent is about safeguarding vulnerable people at risk of being radicalised. Through the voluntary and confidential Channel programme, hundreds of people last year got the specialist support they needed; diverting them away from a destructive path of violence and terrorism.

On Channel, vulnerable people including chil­dren, are often assigned a specialist mentor who can address concerns around theology and ideolo­gy and offer that individual a positive alternative to terrorist propaganda. Our figures show that two-thirds of those supported by Channel were inspired by groups like Daesh (Islamic State). We know that to protect our young people, engagement and sup­port from Muslim communities is key. We should also remember that Prevent explicitly addresses the threat posed by far right extremists. I am steadfast in my determination to focus as equally on the threat from the neo-Nazi and far right as I am from Daesh and Al Qaeda.

While there are critics who are determined to undermine the Prevent strategy, I would argue they are the ones sowing the seeds of division and creat­ing mistrust. Prevent is simply part of safeguarding, similar to the ways young people would be pro­tected from child sexual exploitation and groom­ing. Every year there are more than 600,000 refer­rals by teachers, social workers and health profes­sionals linked to wider child safeguarding duties. Prevent referrals of young people, by comparison, represents less than one per cent of such a figure.

I have heard first-hand how Prevent interven­tions have saved lives. I have had mothers in the north west tell me that without that support, their children would have travelled to Syria. How could anyone argue with the principles behind protecting our young from fighting and potentially dying for a cause so at odds with our shared values and with the Islamic faith?

Tackling radicalisation and the roots of terrorism is a responsibility for us all. There are some inspir­ing examples in our local communities, including British Muslims helping to protect our neighbour­hoods and safeguard vulnerable individuals from radicalisation. Some of that work is done by people in the ordinary course of their lives – parents and youth workers keeping young people away from local extremists, or imams teaching young people about the perils of intolerance and hatred. This important work that is carried out on a daily basis without much fanfare, is strengthened by the ef­forts of civil society groups working under Prevent.

We also fund 169 projects delivered by grassroots organisations who are delivering invaluable work aimed at building communities’ resilience to terror­ist and extremist ideologies. Groups like London Tigers who reach out to vulnerable young people through sport to prevent them from being drawn into dangers including drugs, anti-social behaviour and extremism. Or Birmingham-based KIKIT, which delivers outreach and mentoring to British Muslims who are struggling with alcohol and drug addiction, and as a result of their addiction, can become vulnerable to being radicalised. Parent­Zone, another group partly funded by Prevent, helps parents understand and respond to the risk of online radicalisation and extremism. This is espe­cially important at a time when children are in­creasingly living their lives on the internet. Last year these projects reached 53,000 people.

But the work of Prevent goes beyond funding these inspiring projects. It is also about increasing the understanding of radicalisation in the broader communities. Trust and confidence is crucial to much of Prevent, given that our Channel safe­guarding process only operates with the consent of those it serves. Our Prevent coordinators talk to faith leaders, teachers, parents and young people on a daily basis to learn about local risks and listen to feedback on how we can improve our work. They host community events designed to demystify Pre­vent and empower people in their capability to tackle and challenge extremism.

This is complex and sensitive work and we must always remain open to constructive feedback as well as ensure that local communities are aware of the often life-changing work that our local partners have delivered on the ground. My officials, the home secretary and I regularly meet people up and down the country to ensure that we are continually engaging with local communities. Engagement is critical to ensure that the community-led nature of Prevent is strengthened and enhanced.

Publishing statistics around our Prevent pro­gramme demonstrates our goal to improve trans­parency and have a more open conversation about how this strategy is saving lives. Keeping our chil­dren, our neighbours and our communities safe is a goal that we should all care about.

And is Prevent working? In 2015-16, over 300 people of all faiths and ages were turned away from violence and hate. These were people on the cusp of causing harm and dividing our communities. They have a second chance and we are safer. In my book, that means Prevent works. It is not about “brand” or the name of the policy, it is about outcome and purpose – safety and safeguarding.

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