Safeguarding Children from Radicalisation and Extremism

The Prevent strategy was published in 2011 and forms part of the UK’s overall counter-terrorism strategy, called CONTEST. The aim of the Prevent strategy is to reduce the threat to the UK from terrorism by stopping people being drawn into terrorism, either becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Prevent works at the pre-criminal stage by using early intervention to encourage individuals and communities to challenge extremist and terrorist ideology and behaviour.

This Preventing Extremism and Radicalisation Procedure is one element within Westbrook’s overall arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children who use the service.

This chapter contains information for staff working in residential homes on the risks faced by children and young people who are exposed to extremist material and / or radicalisation. It highlights the key indicators which staff should be alert to, and explains the action which should be taken where there are concerns about the behaviour of any young people in our care.

Radicalisation is defined as the process by which people come to support terrorism and, in some cases, to then participate in terrorist groups.

“Extremism is the vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. We also include in our definition of extremism call for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas”. (HM Government Prevent Strategy 2011)

Since the publication of the Prevent Strategy, there has been an awareness of the specific need to safeguard children, young people and families from violent extremism. Keeping children safe from these risks is a safeguarding matter and should be approached in the same way as safeguarding children from other risks.

Children and young people can be drawn into violence or they can be exposed to the messages of extremist groups by many means. These can include through the influence of family members or friends and/or direct contact with extremist groups and organisations or, increasingly, through the internet via Social media or other websites. This can put a young person at risk of being drawn into criminal activity and has the potential to lead to the child or young person suffering Significant Harm’.

Often this exposure takes the form of a “grooming” process where the vulnerabilities of a young person are exploited to form an exclusive friendship which draws the young person away from other influences that might challenge the radical ideology. The risk of radicalisation can develop over time and may relate to a number of factors in the child’s life. Identifying these risks requires practitioners to exercise their professional judgement and to seek further advice as necessary. The risk may be combined with other vulnerabilities or may be the only risk identified.

On-line content, in particular social media, may pose a specific risk in normalising radical views and promoting content that is shocking and extreme; children can be trusting and may not necessarily appreciate bias, which can lead to being drawn into such groups and to adopt their extremist views.

Staff working in residential units should be aware of issues that may make an individual vulnerable to radicalisation, these can include:

• Identity Crisis - Distance from cultural / religious heritage and uncomfortable with their place in the society around them;
• Personal Crisis - Family tensions; sense of isolation; adolescence; low self-esteem; disassociating from existing friendship group and becoming involved with a new and different group of friends; searching for answers to questions about identity, faith and belonging;
• Personal Circumstances - Migration; local community tensions; events affecting country or region of origin; alienation from UK values; having a sense of grievance that is triggered by personal experience of racism or discrimination or aspects of Government policy;
• Unmet aspirations - Perceptions of injustice; feeling of failure; rejection of community values;
• Criminality - Experiences of imprisonment; previous involvement with criminal groups.

There are a number of behaviours which may indicate a child is at risk of being radicalised or exposed to extreme views: These may include:

• Spending increasing time in the company of other suspected extremists;
• Changing their style of dress or personal appearance to accord with the group;
• Day-to-day behaviour becoming increasingly centred on an extremist ideology;
• Loss of interest in other friends and activities not associated with the extremist ideology, group or cause;
• Possession of material or symbols associated with an extremist cause;
• Attempts to recruit others to the group / cause;
• Communications with others that suggest identification with a group, cause or ideology;
• Using insulting to derogatory names for another group.

There is a clear difference between espousing radical and extreme views and acting on them, and staff should ensure that any assessments of risk place behaviour in the family and social context of the young person and include information about the young person’s peer group and conduct and behaviour at school. Holding radical or extreme views is not illegal, but inciting a person to commit an act in the name of any belief is in itself an offence.

To report suspected online terrorist content, see GOV.UK website or complete Hounslow’s VTR referral form as below:

Click here to view the Person Vulnerable to Radicalisation (VTR) Referral Form.

You can also refer content of concern directly to social media platforms - see UK Safer Internet Centre website.

‘Let’s Talk about It’ is a website that provides a lot of information about radicalisation and the support that is available to prevent someone from becoming involved in terrorism.