Leaders for London Heather Flinders – Divisional Director, Children and Families Heather Flinders – Divisional Director, Children and Families 1

CONTEST Government’s Counter-terrorism strategy: Pursue: the investigation and disruption of terrorist attacks; Prevent: work to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism and extremism; Protect: improving our protective security to stop a terrorist attack; and Prepare: working to minimise the impact of an attack and to recover from it as quickly as possible. Terrorism: "The use or threat of action designed to influence the government or an international governmental organisation or to intimidate the public, or a section of the public; made for the purposes of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause; and it involves or causes: serious violence against a person; serious damage to a property; a threat to a person's life; a serious risk to the health and safety of the public; or serious interference with or disruption to an electronic system.” Extremism: 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.

Counter extremism strategy, October Countering extremist ideology - “We will continue to confront and challenge extremist propaganda, ensuring no space goes uncontested, including online, promoting a better alternative, and supporting those at risk of radicalisation.” 2.Building a partnership with all those opposed to extremism - We will go further to stand with and build the capacity of mainstream individuals, community organisations and others in our society who work every day to challenge extremists and protect vulnerable individuals. 3. Disrupting extremists: We will create new targeted powers, flexible enough to cover the full range of extremist behaviour, including where extremists sow division in our communities and seek to undermine the rule of law. 4. Building more cohesive communities: We will review, understand and address the reasons why some people living here do not identify with our country and our values. A new Cohesive Communities Programme will help those communities most at risk of isolation.

2. What ‘causes’ extremism? Short answer – no clear model Some potential common factors include: Those involved in extremism come from a wide variety of backgrounds but there is some evidence that vulnerability and an absence of protective networks can be influential. A crisis of identity may be triggered by personal issues, and exacerbated by a sense that an aspect of their identity is incompatible with mainstream values. Political grievances (real and imagined) may be used to justify extremism, or may provoke interest in extremist ideologies. Exposure to a network, movement or ideology endorsing these views can help to encourage participation in extremist action.

Quilliam Foundation 2015: 1. ‘[E]xposure to an ideology that seems to sanction, legitimise or require violence, often by providing a compelling but fabricated narrative of contemporary politics and recent history; 2. [E]xposure to people, groups or material, who can directly and persuasively articulate that ideology and then relate it to aspects of a person’s own background and life history; 3. [A] crisis of identity and, often, uncertainty about belonging which might be triggered by a range of further personal issues, including experiences of racism, discrimination, deprivation and other criminality (as victim or perpetrator); family breakdown or separation; and 4. [A] range of perceived grievances, some real and some imagined, to which there may seem to be no credible and effective non-violent response.’ Counter Extremism Strategy 2015: There is no single model of radicalisation: the process is unique for each individual. However, in general terms three elements are present: a vulnerable person will be introduced to an extremist ideology by a radicalising influencer (typically an extremist individual) who in the absence of protective factors, such as a supportive network of family and friends, or a fulfilling job, draws the vulnerable individual ever closer to extremism.

3. Lessons from best practice nationally on tackling counter extremism Divergent views on the importance of tackling non-violent (alongside violent) extremism – but clear view from the Government that this is a priority. A need for transparency around Prevent interventions and their purpose, alongside wider efforts to promote community engagement and cohesion. The need to develop effective counter-narratives to extremist ideologies, with a focus on online channels, as well as developing young people’s critical thinking skills. The need to see the potential for radicalisation as a ‘vulnerability’ and to learn from programmes aimed to address other vulnerabilities including sexual exploitation and gang violence – including taking a whole family approach: Professor Peter Neumann: “FIGHTERS’ FAMILIES… 99% of them do not want their kids to go to Syria, none of them want their kids to die. We know that wannabe fighters have arguments with their parents, and we’ve seen – in a number of cases – that parents have succeeded in making their sons or daughters stay. Parents are our strongest allies, they need to be helped and empowered.”

4. Example of practice at local authority level There is a varied approach across Councils as to which strand of Prevent they focus on. There is no clear, single framework to measuring the outcomes achieved by Prevent programmes. Contest strategy: Prevent strand 1. Channel2.Prevent Duty 2.1 Effective leadership 2.2 Working in partnership 2.3 Sharing Information 3.Prevent Priority work 3.1Outreach and engagement programme 3.2 Young Leaders Programme 3.3 Identity Belonging and Extremism 3.4 Capacity and Resilience Building Digital resilience programme 4. Other counter extremism work 4.1 BRIT programme Statutory Delivery Wider Prevent work elements

5. Statutory Wider Prevent Duty What is Channel? Alongside the overall Prevent Duty applicable to a wide range of public institutions, Local Authorities have specific responsibilities around the ‘Channel’ programme. Sections 36 to 41 of the CT&S Act 2015 sets out the duty on local authorities and partners of local panels to provide support for people vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism. In England and Wales this duty is the Channel programme. Participation from individuals and their families in the Channel programmes is voluntary and the people referred to Channel are not criminals but have been identified as at risk of offending if not supported. The Channel Duty can be divided into six key core duties: the need to integrate Channel work with existing safeguarding duties; the need to ensure a multi-agency panel is in place to develop a risk assessment; the local authority must chair the panel; the panel must develop a support plan for individuals deemed to be vulnerable; the panel must also considerable alternative support for individuals; all partners must work together to carry out their functions.

Prevent Duty The Prevent Duty Statutory guidance issued under section 29 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (the Act) places a duty on specified authorities to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism” in the exercise of their functions.1. The Prevent Strategy itself has three strategic objectives: -respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it; -prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support -work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to address.2 There are 3 core duties which local authorities must follow: -Effective leadership -Working in partnership -Sharing information Detailed guidance on the statutory duties local authorities must follow can be found in appendix A

Subject to national and local noise [Political/Media/Community] -Go to place for comment on national and London issues -Often historical issues/people provide context and comment -Depending on your view we are innovative and proactive OR risk taking and obsessed -This can quickly change! What is the operating spotlight in Waltham Forest?

Prevent in schools Family flee to Syria Channel 4 programme “Dispatches: Isis the British women supporters” (featuring Tower Hamlets and WF) Innovation vs risk taking Media challenge Governance & political interface Community engagement Challenge & tension Take six months! Everyday challenges vs out of the ordinary

The role of leaders Pay attention to the everyday details Keep the pressure off the front line Do the basics well Try to find the common ground with partners No one is an expert but some people are experienced - use them! Debrief and learn for next time Complex or wicked