PREVENT EXTREMISM AND RADICALISATION
PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding its learners, and the wider community, from the threat of terrorism. The purpose of this presentation is:
To understand the core values of British society
To provide an introduction to the PREVENT strategy
What are the core values of British society? Democracy – ensuring everyone is listened to. Individual Liberty – guiding you to take responsibility for your own learning and behaviour.
Mutual Respect – promoting respect of other opinions in discussions or debates.
Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs – accepting an environment which values individuals equally.
The Rule of Law – including the College code of conduct.
What is Prevent? Prevent is part of the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy. The aim of Prevent is to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. The Prevent strategy has three elements: • Ideology - Challenging the ideology that supports terrorism and the threat faced from those who promote it. • Individual - Preventing people from being drawn into terrorism and ensuring they are given appropriate advice and support. • Institution - Supporting sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation.
Background • The UK faces a continuing threat from both international and domestic terrorism and violent extremism, which can emerge from any community and can be inspired by a wide range of causes. • The current threat from terrorism in the UK can include the exploitation of vulnerable people, including children of all ages, young people and adults and involve them in terrorism or activity in support of terrorism. • Young people/vulnerable people are being recruited into groups promoting hatred, discrimination and sometimes violence.
What do we mean by… Vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
Extremism
The Prevent team also include, in their definition of extremism, calls for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas.
The process by which a person comes to support terrorism or forms of extremism leading to terrorism.
Radicalisation
What do we mean by… Includes literature or videos that are used by radicalisers to encourage or reinforce individuals to adopt a violent ideology. Some of this material may explicitly encourage violence.
Radicalising materials
Other materials may take no definite position on violence but make claims to which violence is subsequently presented as the only solution.
Vulnerability
Describes the condition of being capable of being injured; difficult to defend; open to moral or ideological attack. Within Prevent, the word describes factors and characteristics associated with being susceptible to radicalisation.
Background • Several hundred young British people have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join IS. Others have been recruited to commit acts of terrorism in this country. • Extremism can take many forms including that linked to Far Right / Neo Nazi / White Supremacist, Al Qaeda ideologies, Irish Nationalist and Loyalist paramilitary groups, and that linked to Animal Rights movements.
Who is vulnerable? People from all kinds of backgrounds can become radicalised. Vulnerable people could be: • • • • • • • • •
Struggling with a sense of identity Becoming distanced from their cultural or religious background Questioning their place in society Experiencing family issues Experiencing a traumatic event Experiencing racism or discrimination Having difficulty in interacting socially and lacking empathy Having difficulty in understanding the consequences of their actions Having low self-esteem
Spotting the signs of potential radicalisation • • • • • • • • • • • • •
A change in outward appearance Becoming increasingly argumentative Refusing to listen to different points of view Unwilling to engage with others who are different Becoming abusive to others who are different Embracing conspiracy theories Feeling persecuted Changing friends Distancing themselves from old friends No longer doing things they used to enjoy Converting to a new religion Being secretive and reluctant to discuss their whereabouts Becoming sympathetic to extremist ideologies and groups
What can you do? There are only a very small number of people who support terrorist activity, or are likely to. The vast majority of people, in all communities, want to see terrorism prevented, and want to play their part as good citizens in helping to make that happen. You know your friends and family well, so are in a prime position to recognise if they’re acting out of character. Trust and have confidence in your judgement, and get advice if something feels wrong.
Confidential Hotline. 0800 789 321 It's probably nothing but…
QUICK CHECK
1.
What are the core values of British Society?
2.
What is the purpose of Prevent?
3.
What is the difference between extremism and radicalisation?
4.
Who is vulnerable to radicalisation?
5.
What can you do to help stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism?