Many of us will be familiar with the news stories about straight-A schoolgirls joining ISIS after being radicalised online in their bedrooms. Radicalisers and preachers deliberately prey on children - both online and in their communities - to groom them into an extremist mindset, seeking to destroy their families and their future careers. I have seen first-hand how extremism poses a threat to children; radicalisation should be of concern to us all.
The NSPCC has recognised radicalisation as a child protection issue. It not only threatens our children’s future and wellbeing - it seeks to polarise our society by promoting hatred and fear. Extremism can lead youngsters down a path towards violence and criminality.
Alongside the rise of Islamist extremism, there has been a worrying increase in far right extremism, with far right groups also radicalising impressionable youngsters. The fragmentation of established organisations such as the BNP has led to the emergence of more extreme groups, as a BBC News report last year highlighted. They are focussing their attention on recruiting a younger, newer generation to their worldview – especially online. Britain First, for example, has almost 1.5 million likes on Facebook. By dominating social media in this way, far right groups are able to influence youngsters’ views by creating an echo chamber effect. It is no surprise that there has been an increase in anti-Muslim rhetoric and bullying experienced by Muslim pupils in schools. Even in 2014, Childline highlighted a 69% increase in racist bullying.
Prevent is a government strategy, created under Labour, that provides support, counselling and early intervention to young people who are vulnerable to radicalisation - from the far right as well as Islamist extremists. Prevent works with anti-racism civil society groups to deliver school assemblies, and produces online videos in an attempt to disrupt the far right and Islamist social media echo chambers. Through initiatives such as this, many young people have turned away from hatred of Muslims, Jews, non-Muslims, homosexuals and other minority groups.
Prevent has attracted criticism though. Critics of the strategy have suggested that it aims to criminalise Muslims, that it seeks to close down discussion in class and encourages teachers to spy on their pupils. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Prevent only operates in the non-criminal space; its aim is to prevent people from crossing the criminal line. The strategy recognises that we cannot arrest our way out of radicalisation; instead, support, counselling and intervention are key.
Nor does Prevent encourage teachers to 'spy' on their pupils. Teachers are already required to protect pupils if they could be vulnerable to child sexual abuse or violence. Now, under the Prevent Duty, they are asked to extend their existing safeguarding role by being aware of the risk of radicalisation. Honest discussion in class is also encouraged; Ofsted has made it quite clear that good practice includes schools opening up conversations in a meaningful and engaging way. Inspire has delivered training to 5000 teachers and we have overwhelmingly found teachers recognise the important role they can play – but we as parents need to work with them and take a proactive stance in looking at how best to counter extremism in our homes and communities.
Support for Prevent is provided through the Channel scheme, which is chaired by the local authority and brings together professionals from health, social services and other agencies. They identify individuals at risk of being drawn into violent extremism, assess the nature and extent of that risk and develop the most appropriate support for the individuals concerned, with parental consent.
Channel has been life-changing for a number of young people. For example, I know of a 17-year-old Muslim girl whose extreme views concerned both her parents and teachers. She recognised that she needed support and received mentoring through Channel from a female intervention provider who helped unpick an extreme interpretation of Islam that she had been exposed to on the internet. Or, take James - a teenager with a difficult family background, who was bullied at school and would glorify Hitler. He was befriended by far right extremists who sensed his vulnerability, and he began to speak increasingly violently about Muslims. Channel provided him with support including mentoring and active involvement in a local youth club. He now has friends from a range of faiths rejects the narrative of far right ideologues.
Radicalisation of our children is a very real threat - we must tackle it head-on. As parents, teachers or government we must work to protect the wellbeing of our children when we know extremists are deliberately seeking to groom them. The strategies are in place to tackle radicalisation, and we need to equip ourselves with the facts, knowledge and know-how to help safeguard our youngsters.
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Guest post: "Radicalisation of our children - we must tackle it head-on"
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MumsnetGuestPosts · 15/09/2016 11:45
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