Radicalisation and Violent Extremism

Radicalisation is the process by which an individual comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies associated with terrorist groups.

Radicalisation is a process rather than an event, and there is no single profile or pathway by which someone can be drawn into terrorism. There are instead a range of contributing factors that can make someone more vulnerable, including:

1. Peer pressure;
2. Bullying;
3. Family tensions;
4. Race/hate crime;
5. Lack of self-esteem or identity;
6. Personal or political grievances.

Vulnerable individuals are targeted and influenced directly or, increasingly, in online chat rooms or through social media.

The following could all be indicators that an adult may be a victim of radicalisation:

1. General changes of mood, patterns of behaviour, secrecy;
2. Changes of friends and mode of dress;
3. Use of inappropriate language;
4. Possession of violent extremist literature;
5. The expression of extremist views;
6. Planning to take long term holidays and visits out of the UK;
7. Advocating violent actions and means;
8. Association with known extremists;
9. Seeking to recruit others to an extremist ideology.

There an obvious difference between espousing radical and extreme views and acting on them and practitioners should ensure that assessments place behaviour in the whole family and social context of the adult. 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.

The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act (2015) places a specific legal duty on specified organisations, including local authorities and health providers, to have due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism.

The UK Government CONTEST counter terrorism strategy (2011) provides a framework to counter all forms of terrorism and is centred around the four 'Ps':

• Prevent – to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism;
• Pursue – to strengthen our protection against a terrorism attack;
• Protect – to strengthen our protection against a terrorism attack; and
• Prepare – to mitigate the impact of a terrorist attack.

'Prevent' is part of the Government's counter-terrorism strategy. It aims to safeguard and provide support to divert vulnerable individuals at risk from being radicalised or groomed into supporting terrorist activity, before any crimes are committed.

For guidance on the need to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism see: Revised Prevent Duty Guidance: for England and Wales.

Channel is a process implemented at local level to ensure organisations meet their legal responsibilities around radicalisation. It is an early intervention process to prevent radicalisation and not of benefit after radicalisation has occurred.

Normally chaired by the local authority, a Channel Panel will consist of representation from key agencies, including the police, health and other relevant partners.

The purpose of the Channel Panel is to assess the nature and extent of the risk (using the Channel Vulnerability Assessment) and, if necessary, develop a plan setting out targeted interventions and support that will be provided to the individual at risk of radicalisation.

This could include:

1. Faith guidance;
2. Counselling;
3. Diversionary activities;
4. Access to specific services, such as health or education.

Each agency is responsible for implementing the actions allocated to them.

The effectiveness of the plan should be regularly reviewed and updated as required should the level of risk change.