2.2 Radicalisation and violent extremism

Children and young people are vulnerable to becoming involved in terrorism and extremism due to the current threat of extremist activity in the UK and abroad. The ongoing threat places children and young people at risk of exploitation.

The Prevent Duty, updated by the Government in 2023, is part of an 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 becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.  This involves identifying individuals at risk of being drawn into terrorism, assessing the risk and developing appropriate support to address that risk.

This duty is known as the ‘Prevent’ duty, which came into effect on 1^st July 2015 and applies to a wide range of public-facing bodies who are listed in schedule 6 of the Act as specified authorities in England and Wales.  The specified authorities are those judged to have a role in protecting vulnerable children, young people and adults and/or the national security.  All schools and childcare providers must have due regard to the statutory guidance issued under section 29 of the Counterterrorism and Security Act 2015.  Schools and Childcare providers [1], Registered early years childcare providers and registered later years childcare providers are subject to the Duty under section 26 of the Counterterrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 specifies that local safeguarding partners, local authorities and their partners should be commissioning and providing services for children who are likely to suffer, or may have suffered significant harm, due to radicalisation and extremism.

In addition, the Counterterrorism and Security Act 2015 sections 36 to 41 set out the duty on local authorities and partners to establish and cooperate with a local Channel programme of ‘Channel panels’ to provide support for people, children and adults who are vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.  It is essential that Channel panel members, partners to local panels and other professionals ensure that children, young people and adults are protected from harm.

Channel is about ensuring that vulnerable children and adults of any faith, ethnicity or background receive support before their vulnerabilities are exploited by those that want them to embrace terrorism, and before they become involved in criminal terrorist related activity.

An agency or individual can make a referral to access Channel specialisms if they suspect that someone is vulnerable or susceptible to being drawn into terrorism.

[1] Including early years and later years childcare provision in schools that is exempt from registration under the Childcare Act 2006 and those registered under Chapter 2 or 2A of Part 3 of the Childcare Act 2006, including childminders. Also, those registered under Chapter 3 or 3A of Part 3 of the Childcare Act 2006, including childminders.

“Radicalisation is the process of a person legitimising support for, or the use of, terrorist violence” Prevent Duty Guidance for England and Wales 2023

“Extremism is 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.  We also include in our definition of extremism calls for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas.”
 HM Government definition

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.  There have been attempts to radicalise vulnerable children and young people to develop extreme views including views justifying political, religious, ideological or racist violence, or to steer them into a rigid and narrow ideology that is intolerant of diversity and leaves them vulnerable to future radicalisation.

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 should be protected from messages of all violent extremism including, but not restricted to, those linked to Islamist-inspired violent ideology, or to Extreme Right-Wing/Neo Nazi/White Supremacist ideology, various paramilitary groups, and extremist Animal Rights movements.

Children and young people can be drawn into violence or they can be exposed to the messages of extremist groups through the influence of family members, 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.

 A ‘grooming’ process may take place 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 the 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.

Online 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.

Recent case evidence indicates that specific groups such as young people have been targeted for radicalisation and grooming online,  placing them at risk.  Any information about a young person or child that raises concerns should be discussed with their parents, schools, Children’s Services and the police as part of the risk assessment.

Issues that may make an individual vulnerable to radicalisation can include:

• Identity crisis: Distance from cultural/religious heritage and uncomfortable with their place in society.
• 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.

Those closest to the individual may first notice the following changes of behaviour:

• General changes of mood, patterns of behaviour, secrecy.
• Changes of friends and mode of dress.
• Use of inappropriate language.
• Possession of violent extremist literature.
• The expression of extremist views.
• Advocating violent actions and means.
• Association with known extremists.
• Seeking to recruit others to an extremist ideology.
• Accessing extremist websites, including social media sites

There is an obvious difference between promoting radical and extreme views and acting on them, and practitioners should ensure that assessments 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 a criminal act in the name of any belief is in itself an offence.

Any practitioner identifying concerns about the child or young person should report them to the designated safeguarding lead in their organisation. The Local Safeguarding referral pathway should be followed with children’s services in the area of the child’s residence, not the school that they attend. A Local Authority Screening Tool should be used when possible and attached along with the referral to the Local Authority Safeguarding Team. [Do we need to stipulate different procedures for Birmingham & Solihull). The response as with all safeguarding concerns, should be proportionate, with the emphasis on supporting vulnerable children and young people, unless there is evidence of more active involvement in extremist activities. 

Consent should be sought from parents or carers in the first instance. However, consideration should be given to the possibility that sharing information with parents may increase the risk to the child and therefore may not be appropriate.  Experience has shown that parents are key in challenging ideological views and extremist behaviour and should be included in support unless there are clear reasons why not.

Wherever possible the response should be appropriately and proportionately provided from within the range of universal / universal plus provision of the organisation working with other local agencies and partners.  Responses could include curriculum provision, additional tutoring or mentoring, additional activities within and out of school and family support and consider a referral to the Early Help Locality Support Hub

Where a higher level of targeted and multi-agency response is indicated, a formal multi-agency assessment should be conducted where there is evidence of more active involvement of extremist activities.  This may lead to a Strategy Discussion, Section 17 Family Assessment, Section 47 Enquiry , or an Initial Child Protection Conference, if there are concerns about the child or young person suffering significant harm.

Where concerns are identified in respect of potential signs of radicalisation which indicate the child or young person is vulnerable, or is potentially involved in supporting or following extremism, West Midlands Counter Terrorism Police (WM CTP) may investigate. The person raising the concerns should discuss their concerns with the Local Authority Prevent Early Help Lead, who will decide in conjunction with WM CTP whether a referral to Channel/ or other safeguarding response is required.

Protecting children and young people from radicalisation and extremism requires careful assessment and working collaboratively across agencies as initial concerns and potential risk can be dependent on a wider range of factors.  Sharing information effectively and keeping the child and young person in focus should be the main aim of any interventions and services.

Reporting online material which promotes extremism, such as illegal or harmful pictures or videos, can be done through the local authority referral process, although professionals should follow the Local Authority safeguarding referral procedures, non-professionals may make a report anonymously.

• Educate Against Hate
• Prevent duty guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)ADCS resources Radicalisation and Extremism
• Advice for Local Authorities – Protecting Children at Risk of Harm from Radicalisation or from being Taken into Conflict Zones
• Channel Duty Guidance: Protecting people vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism (publishing.service.gov.uk)
• Prevent duty training - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Report Online Material promoting Extremism