Guest post: "Radicalisation of our children - we must tackle it head-on"

[MumsnetGuestPosts]

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.

[SaraKhan]

@Wantedtobe

Thanks Sara. I'm interested in hearing more about how free speech can still take place in schools and how teachers can make sure that isn't stifled. I think our children are afraid of what they say being misinterpreted - for young people, surely schools should be a place where they can freely discuss ideas and experiences without fear they're being monitored?

Hi Wantedtobe,

Ofsted expect schools to encourage discussion in class. They have said that if they heard discussions were being closed down, they would be very concerned as this is not what is expected under the Prevent Duty. Many schools now are encouraging discussion and debate in very creative ways. Whether through PSHE classes, external speakers, assemblies or even debates (I have seen schools for example encourage discussion about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict). But it needs to be in a controlled environment. After the Paris attacks in November many schools had to talk about what happened and answer questions that were raised because children were concerned.

I like you believe that schools should be a place where they can freely discuss ideas without fear. We need to cultivate this culture and support/engage teachers to see how as parents we can help with that. But I am already seeing excellent examples of this - and through good Prevent training, teachers recognise this is vital because when combatting extremism, it is ideas that must be championed over and above the negative dehumanising beliefs of extremists.

[SaraKhan]

@OlennasWimple

Sara - thank you for your clear and articulate posting.

My question is how far you think we still have to go to get all parts of the child protection system to understand and acknowledge that radicalisation is a child protection issue? I'm thinking of everyone from LA chief executives to social workers on the ground

Hi I think many agencies do recognise that radicalisation is a child protect issue. When organisations like the NSPCC or Childline come out and champion this issue as they have done, they are really helping to shift the debate to what it should be in the case of children: child safety.

To be honest though, in my experience I'm not sure if many parents appreciate that radicalisation is a child protection issue. There is still a great deal of education that needs to take place more widely across the board.

[SaraKhan]

@TessDurbeyfield

Thanks for your really detailed reply Sara. I want to be really clear that I am not suggesting that children are not at risk in many of the situations that you discuss but they would be child protection issues on any understanding (seeking to join terrorist groups, watching violent material etc). Of course, understanding how people are drawn into terrorism is an important part of tacking that. My concern is whether 'being an extremist' is a child protection issue and what that means.

Just to be very clear, when you say:

"I define extremism as any who incite violence, hatred or discrimination for political, religious or ideological causes. This can often include undermining the rule of law and democracy. Extremism is not just about violence. In the 21st century, universal human rights norms should be the means by which we judge extremism. "

Do you mean that being an extremist on that definition (opposing universal human rights norms) is a child protection issue?

Similarly on this:

"You give the example of the hatred promoted to gays which has in some cases led to bullying of gay children in class - which is unacceptable. How would Muslim parents feel if a non-Muslim child was saying incredibly derogatory and hatefilled things about Muslims? I’m sure many parents would find that unacceptable and indeed children would be in fear/scared. "

Those are child protection issues too?

I think much of the work that you do is fantastic and there are really serious child protection issues here but I am worried that we can't define them precisely or see the limits. That's important as it's the talk of child protection that gives Prevent its coercive edge.

Hi, I think you are trying to make a clear cut link and it is more complicated than this. When we talk about child protection issues, it is (in my view at least) a discussion about what are the possible factors that can make a child vulnerable to radicalisation? Now in some cases, it isn't necessarily extreme views - it could be mental health issues (and a whole host of other issues) which drives them to advocate or commit violence. So it's important to think more broadly and see this as looking at the factors that make someone vulnerable to radicalisation. I hope that helps!

[SaraKhan]

Thank you all for your wonderful and insightful questions. I really enjoyed my time on here. If you do want more advice/help and you have concerns about radicalisation, please be aware that you are not alone. There are agencies and services out there to help. If you need further advice, please feel free to contact Childline who have a new helpline specifically on this issue. And the Educate Against Hate website has a really helpful section for parents with further sources of info/advice. educateagainsthate.com/

Have a wonderful weekend.

Warm regards
Sara

[TessDurbeyfield]

Thanks Sara for coming on, it's really helpful and interesting to have had your input.