A program that would “kickstart” an initiative to “tackle the threat posed by extremist ideologies” has been announced by the Home Office.
In the wake of the riots that broke out throughout the United Kingdom earlier this month, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has pledged to take action against individuals who are “pushing harmful and hateful beliefs” and to “kickstart” a new strategy for combating extremism.
The Home Office has decided to start a “rapid sprint” in order to develop a new approach to countering extremism.
This initiative intends to give analysis and recommendations on how to “tackle the threat posed by extremist ideologies” in order to accomplish its goal.
In order to respond to shifting extremism trends across the United Kingdom, a new government counter-extremism policy will take this information into account.
According to the Home Office, the programme would investigate the increase of Islamist and far-right extremism in the United Kingdom, as well as wider ideological tendencies, such as extreme misogyny or attitudes that fit into broader categories, such as a preoccupation with violence.
There have been around 460 people who have appeared in magistrates’ courts so far in relation to the unrest that was caused by the misinformation surrounding the suspect in the knife assault that occurred in Southport.
The number of individuals under the age of 18 who are suspected to have been charged is at least 72.
Several individuals have been charged with offences related to the publication of content that contributed to the unrest. These offences include publishing written material with the intention of inciting racial hatred or sending a message that is extremely offensive.
Over an excessively long period of time, governments have been unable to effectively combat the expansion of extremism, both on the internet and in our streets. As a consequence of this, we have seen an increase in the number of young individuals who have gotten radicalised as a result of their use of the internet.
“Hateful incitement of all kinds fractures and frays the very fabric of our communities and our democracy.”
She continued by stating that in recent years, the struggle against extremism has greatly decreased, precisely at the moment when it ought to have been required the most. She said this in reference to the fact that it has occurred.
“As a result of this, I have given the Home Office the instruction to do a swift analytical sprint on extremism. To map and monitor extremist trends, to gain an understanding of the evidence regarding what works to disrupt and divert people away from extremist views, and to identify any gaps in existing policy that need to be addressed in order to crack down on those who are pushing harmful and hateful beliefs and violence, the purpose of this sprint is to map and monitor extremist trends.
“That work will underpin a new strategic approach to countering extremism from government, working closely with communities to build consensus and impetus for our plans.”
The pledge that the government made on its platform to prevent individuals from being drawn towards ideologies that encourage hatred is the goal of the new policy, which aims to fulfil that commitment.
withThe previous Conservative government had failed to develop any counter-extremism policy since the year 2015, and Ms. Cooper had previously expressed her displeasure of this failure. According to her, the lack of a unified strategy or tactics that could actually be implemented was the root cause of the decreased sense of safety in communities.