Radicalisation & Extremism: The Bigger Picture
In light of the recently announced inquiry into the way prisons deal with convicted terrorists, amid increasing concerns of growing radicalisation behind bars, Jonathan Hall QC, who leads this inquiry, has said: "There has been a steady drumbeat over recent years of terrorist attacks against prison officers, and an increasing number of individuals who may well have formed their terrorist intent in prison under the influence of high-status terrorist prisoners…We need scrutiny of how prisons operate to either contain, or worse encourage, terrorism."
There can be no doubt that the petri dish atmosphere in the UK prison system is ill-equipped to prevent vulnerable, malleable and disillusioned young offenders (often with mental health issues) from being ‘converted’ to a harder, more violent and extreme individual, not only more capable, but more motivated to carry out terrorist acts on their release. We only have to look back to the events at Fishmongers Hall in November 2019 – where recently released Usman Khan fatally stabbed Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones at a prisoner rehabilitation event, then going on to injure two others before being shot dead by police officers – to see that the custodial deradicalisation program was ineffective. Indeed, the Prevent officers tasked with monitoring Khan had "no specific training" in handling terrorists.
Meanwhile, closer to home, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu has again advised parents and carers to ACT Early and keep a close eye on signs of extremist grooming as young people spend more time out of school and online. The head of Counter Terrorism Policing said that the ongoing national lockdown was likely to bring increased risks of radicalisation due to groomers seeking to exploit isolation and more time being spent on the internet. Only recently, a 16-year-old boy from Cornwall was sentenced to a 24-month youth rehabilitation order for offences against the Terrorism Act. He was identified as the leader of the UK cell for the worldwide online extremist group Feuerkrieg Division (FKD), promoting right wing terrorism, white supremacy, homophobia and racism. At just 16 years old…
How can the extremist education agenda be thwarted in the prison system? Should solitary confinement for terror-related offences be mandatory? Does the deradicalisation process need strengthening and revalidating? Should all prison officers be ‘Prevent-trained’ to be able to better spot those inmates in danger of being exposed to cancerous cellmates, hellbent on turning the prison system into a terrorist training camp? How do we address the issue of online radicalisation? Do ISPs need to intervene earlier? What about freedom of the internet?
These are the key questions that will be addressed on 22nd April at the CTB365 ‘Radicalisation & Extremism: The Bigger Picture’ online interactive event.
So, why should YOU attend?
-
To get the inside track from industry experts.
-
Have your questions answered and to learn the current thinking.
-
To voice your opinion at a critical time for the PREVENT program and the rising tide of extremism, globally.
Also, because of our partnership with the Security Institute, all CTB365 events are CPD-Accredited – meaning that you will earn DOUBLE CPD points for attending!
Please register for this influential gathering of radicalisation experts, online, to further your knowledge and to engage with the leaders in the field.
Join us for what promises to be an informative online event of industry Thought Leaders, with Peer Chat, Live Polls, Interactive Q&A and Download Centre.