Good Morning Prevent Champions, DSL’s and Prevent
Partners.
Today sees the launch of the ACT Early Website which I
have alluded to over the past couple of months in my communications,
particularly with the Prevent Champions Network. The site is designed
specifically for concerned members of the public to visit and learn what the
Prevent world is all about and how they can seek help to safeguard their
friends and relatives, if they have concerns about a risk to them being
radicalised by terrorists or extremist content, particularly online.
You may see media and TV articles today advertising the
launch.
Can I encourage you all to share the following message
from Counter Terrorism Policing with your teams, friends, family and the wider
public. I would particularly appreciate it if School DSL’s could
advertise this website with appropriate messaging on their Social Media
platforms and communications with parents, carers etc.
ACT Early
THE
impact of Covid-19, social isolation and a rise in hateful extremism online is
creating a ‘perfect storm’ which is making more young people vulnerable to
radicalisation and other forms of grooming.
But
parents, friends and families can now get specialist support to stop their
loved ones being drawn into harmful activities or groups, with the launch of ACT
Early - a new dedicated safeguarding website and advice line from the
specialists at Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP).
This
new resource will provide advice, guidance and support for anyone who is
concerned that someone they know may be at risk from being radicalised by
terrorists or extremist content online.
Between
1st January 2019 and 30th June 2020, 17 children have
been arrested in relation to terrorism offences. Some were as young as 14 years
old, while nearly all will have been radicalised entirely online. In the same
time period, more than 1500 children under the age of 15 were helped by the
Prevent programme to choose a different path, away from hatred and violence.
Family
and friends are best placed to spot the worrying behaviour changes which can
indicate that a loved one is heading down a path towards terrorism, but
currently just 2% of referrals into the Government’s anti-radicalisation
programme Prevent come from that group of people.
Prevent is just that – a preventative programme,
delivered locally by teachers, healthcare practitioners, social workers, the
police, charities, and religious leaders. It places protection around people
vulnerable to radicalisation, stopping them from being drawn into terrorism –
regardless of the ideology.
It works in a similar way to safeguarding processes designed to protect people
from gangs, drug abuse, and sexual exploitation.
And with Covid-19 preventing regular access to schools, social workers and
mental health support, specialists at CTP are concerned that people who need
help are not getting it - which makes it more important for friends and family
to use the new ACT Early resources to understand what might be
happening to their loved one and what support Prevent can provide.
“We are seeing more young people being drawn towards terrorist activity,” says
the Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu.
“Last year, 12 children under the age of 18 were arrested in relation to
terrorism offences, some as young as 14-years-old. That is a relatively new and
worrying trend in the UK, because just a few years ago we were not seeing
anyone that young amongst our casework.
“What concerns me most is this – there has been a sharp increase in extremist
material online in the last few years, and Covid-19 has meant that vulnerable
people are spending a lot more time isolated and online, and with fewer of the
protective factors that schooling, employment, friends and family can provide.
“In my opinion that is a perfect storm, one which we cannot predict and that we
might be feeling the effects of for many years to come.
“But I remain hopeful, because there is something we can do right now to try
and stop this. It requires parents, friends and family to help us by acting
early, by talking to their children about what they view online,
and sharing their concerns and seeking support if they fear someone they
know is in danger of being radicalised.
“Asking for help is a difficult and emotional step, but we must see it for what
it is – action which won’t ruin their lives but may well save them.”
Someone who knows all about the dangers that extremism and radicalisation can
pose is Kath Jack from Families and Extremism Support, whose son was convicted
of being a member of the proscribed Right Wing Terrorism group, National
Action, after being radicalised online and who now works to help other families
in similar situations before it is too late.
Kath said: “My son is now trying to rebuild his life in prison after being
drawn down a path by extremists. But his story could have been so different if
I had had advice and support like this available to me. I did know something
was going wrong in his life but didn’t know enough about what it was, how to
talk to him about it without arguments or where to go for help. When the police
did try to intervene he refused to engage with them because by then it was too
late.
“So I would encourage any other mums, dads or wider friends and families to Act
Early and seek help and support. The police and other services can help turn
lives around if you tell them what’s going on soon enough.”
If you are worried that someone you know is being radicalised,
visit http://www.actearly.uk/ You won’t
be wasting our time and you won’t ruin lives, but you might save them.
For help and advice visit www.actearly.uk, or call the national Police Prevent
Advice Line on 0800 011 3764, in confidence, and our specially trained Prevent
officers will listen carefully to your concerns.
