Counter Terror Business - Ideology, extremism, radicalisation

£875,000 to fight hate crime & extremism in London

Polly Jones — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:11:16 +0000

The Mayor of London has announced £875,000 for community organisations across London to fight hate, intolerance and extremism.

The money comes from the the latest round of the Mayor’s Shared Endeavour Fund, which supports organisations and groups to tackle online extremism and misinformation.

Recipients are organisations devoted to countering extremism, radicalisation and terrorism, teaching young people how to spot and fact-check hateful and extremist narratives online alongside promoting shared values to those at risk of radicalisation.

£16 million has been invested in tackling hate crime in London since 2016.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Hate crime and extremism have no place in London and I’m committed to doing all I can to give young Londoners the skills and knowledge to spot all forms of intolerance and fight back against extremist and dangerous ideologies.

“We continue to see fear and hatred peddled online and on our streets, while the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is having ripple effects here in the capital. I will not stand by while Londoners face abuse and hatred and that is why I will continue to fund grassroots organisations to counter this, supporting Londoners no matter their faith or background, building a better London for everyone.”

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “The global environment is shifting quickly, and so naturally, is the pace and complexity of our work. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of young people being drawn towards a pathway to radicalisation through extremist content they are being exposed to online. We are always keen to examine new and innovative ideas that will help stem the flow of extremist ideologies.

“Our success relies on strong partnerships and, once again, we are excited to see this investment in local communities. Projects that tackle route causes or support local resilience are key to supporting future generations. There is no tolerance for hate or extremist ideologies in London and these projects will be part of the mission to defeat terrorism."

Government launches plan to fight extremism, hate and division

Polly Jones — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:50:26 +0000

The government has launched an action plan to build stronger communities and stamp out extremism, hate and division.

Described as a 'rallying call for action', the plan includes the first steps towards a more connected, cohesive and resilient United Kingdom.

The government said that the announcement comes after decades of rapid change including technological advancements, demographic change, the increasing cost of living and the decline of vital public services - all of this putting a strain on social cohesion.

The government also cited bad actors, including those from abroad, looking to stoke community tensions and promote toxic division and extremist ideology in our communities.

The publication, Protecting What Matters, sets out expectations around what it means to live together and integrate into society.

Figures show that hate crime is rising, particularly against Jewish people and Muslims.

Almost half of religious hate crimes are targeted towards the Muslim community. The government will adopt a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim hostility which makes it clear what is unacceptable prejudice, discrimination and hatred directed at Muslims or those perceived to be Muslim. A special representative on anti-Muslim hostility will also be appointed to support action to strengthen understanding, reporting and response.

The government has also invested record funds to boost security and synagogues and Jewish schools and rolled out training on antisemitism in the workplace.

Furthermore, stronger powers have been introduced hut down charities promoting extremism, there will be new powers to stop hate preachers entering the UK and an annual State of Extremism report will be published.

The government has announced plans to strengthen the Charity Commission’s powers to close down charities that promote extremism. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has asked officials to work with the regulator to speed up the process for investigating charities suspected of engaging in extremist behaviour, including strengthening its powers to close them down if needed.

A new consultation will launch, which will look at plans to automatically ban individuals with a criminal conviction for hate crime from serving as charity trustees or senior managers. It will also consult on plans to strengthen the Commission’s powers to disqualify individuals where there is evidence they have promoted violence or hatred.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Charities are the lifeblood of our communities, and we will not allow extremists to hijack their good name.

"By giving the Charity Commission the teeth it needs to act fast and decisively, we will close the door on those who exploit charitable status to spread hate, and open a new chapter that gives the sector the protection it deserves.

"This is a vital step in our ongoing work of national renewal and a Britain built for all."

The government will set out new expectations around integration for people looking to settle in the UK, these will be focused on shared language, local participation and respect for shared values. In order to support this goal, the Government will look at how English is taught, and if new technology can help more people can speak the language confidently.

£500,000 has been announced for community-led school linking projects which will bring children from different backgrounds together. There will also be tougher oversight of home education – including the first-ever mandatory register of children not in school.

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed said: "Today, through the publication of Protecting What Matters, we set out the first steps towards a more confident, cohesive, and resilient United Kingdom. This plan is what patriotism means to this government. We choose to celebrate our national successes and historic achievements, we choose to come together in the best of times and the worst of times, and we choose to take on those who try to divide us."

Campaign to support parents to discuss harmful online content

Polly Jones — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:28:35 +0000

The government has launched a new campaign to support parents in talking about harmful online content.

The ‘You Won’t Know until You Ask’ campaign will provide parents practical support they can use immediately and the confidence they need to have a conversation with their children about the content they see online.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of how harmful body-shaming, rage bait and misogynistic content on social media is.

The support is backed by behavioural research and academic insights and covers safety settings, conversation prompts, and age-appropriate advice for tackling misinformation and harmful content.

Newly released research shows that half of British parents have never spoken to their children about harmful online content, while 90 per cent of 11-year-olds now owning a smartphone.

Evidence shows boys are particularly at risk of being algorithmically served misogynistic and harmful content, often without seeking it out.

The campaign has an emphasis on building critical thinking skills.

The messaging will run across TV ads and social media content on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and will launch in Yorkshire and the Midlands on 16 February.

These two regions have been selected as pilots as they contain a representative sample of the target audience, with broadly similar media literacy skills to the rest of the country so meaningful insights can be gained if the government plans to roll out the campaign more widely.

Dr Kaitlyn Regehr, Associate Professor of Digital Humanities at UCL, said:

Solving this issue requires a multi-pronged approach: regulation, moderation and education. This education-focussed campaign seeks to empower parents and supports collective communication over isolation, ultimately resulting in more intentional choices about screen usage.

Will Gardner OBE, UK Safer Internet Centre Director, official organiser of Safer Internet Day said: "Today is Safer Internet Day, and it is great to see the launch of the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology awareness campaign coinciding with this national opportunity for conversations about online safety. This year, following conversations with young people, Safer Internet Day focusses on the safe and responsible use of AI and its adoption into our everyday lives.

"Today, we have published research which shows how young people are excited by this incredible technology and are using it more than ever across many online services, but they still have concerns, questions and want to learn more to equip themselves to use AI safely and responsibly. Thousands of schools and other organisations are taking part in and supporting Safer Internet Day, and we hope the day kickstarts conversations in classrooms and homes around the UK and helps young people be better supported when it comes to online safety."

Parents urged to be vigilant of children's online activity

Polly Jones — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Counter Terrorism Policing London is urging parents to be vigilant about their children's online activity, with many buying phones and tablets for Christmas in the Black Friday sales.

Referrals to Prevent in London have increased by more than a third (38 per cent) in the last year. This increased has mainly been driven by a record number of referrals due to concerns about the vulnerability to radicalisation of children under the age of 18.

Many children referred to Prevent have no identifiable ideology, but they have accessed terrorist-related content online, or developed a fascination with extreme violence they have found via internet searches or social media.

There has also be an increase in children being arrested for terrorism-related activity over the past four years. According to the latest figures from the �鶹�� Office, there was a record-high number of terrorism arrests for those aged 17 and under in the year ending June 2025.

Warning signs parents should look out for include children becoming more isolated from friends or family, speaking as though they are reading from a script or being secretive about who they are meeting or speaking to online.

Detective Superintendent Jane Corrigan, who is the Met’s London Prevent Co-ordinator, said: “I know lots of children will receive new phones or tablets this Christmas, with many purchased over the coming weekend’s sales, so it’s vital that parents are setting appropriate controls to ensure their children are kept safe on their devices.

“It is extremely concerning to see more and more young people in our caseload, who are accessing extremist, violent and terrorist-related content online.

“That is why we need both parental and public help with this – to protect children from encountering this type of material in the first place and to prevent them from disappearing into dark and dangerous spaces online.

“As well as setting parental controls on devices, I’d also urge parents and carers to take an active interest in their children’s digital lives to try and ensure they don’t become drawn towards this kind of material. And if you do have concerns, then the best thing to do is ACT Early and reach out to us for help – before it’s too late.”

Investment to fight extremism in London

Polly Jones — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 08:42:48 +0000

The Mayor of London has announced £875,000 of funding to tackle hate crime, intolerance and extremism.

As part of the £16m Shared Endeavour Fund, the investment will go to more than 20 grassroots projects to fight hate crime, intolerance and extremism in all its forms.

Around 50,000 Londoners will be supported to recognise and critically assess intolerant, hateful and extremist messages and empower them to safely challenge these narratives.

190,000 Londoners have already benefitted since the scheme was set up in 2020.

The West Ham United Foundation will deliver anti-racism training alongside critical thinking workshops in schools.

The Anne Frank Trust UK will deliver sessions focussing on the impact of antisemitism and Islamophobia, helping young people understand how this prejudice can manifest and the harm it can cause.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Hate crime, extremism and intolerance has no place in London. That’s why I’m continuing to fund grassroot community groups which will benefit Londoners - giving them the skills they need to fight extremism and stand up to hate.

“We are living in increasingly divisive and uncertain times and I know the worry and concern that this is having in our communities. That’s why I’m committed to working in close partnership with communities and the police to ensure everyone in the capital feels, and is, safe and welcome. I will always champion London’s diversity as our greatest strength and work to shape a city where people understand and respect one another, building a better and safer London for everyone.”

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Our concerns over children and young adults being drawn into extremism and terrorism continue to grow. We’re seeing record number of children in our casework and much of this is driven by what they are encountering online, with extremist and terrorist groups exploiting new and emerging technologies and channels to target and recruit those vulnerable to radicalisation.

“That is why it is so important that we also come up with new and innovative ways to counter these threats. It’s a whole societal problem, and so the partnerships between policing, local authorities, MOPAC, education establishments and the charity sector are critical to the shared mission of keeping children and young people safe in this modern world and keeping the wider public safe from terrorism.”

CT Policing issue summer holiday warning to parents

Polly Jones — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 09:27:42 +0000

Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP), MI5, and the National Crime Agency (NCA) have joined forces to urge parents and carers to support their children to be safer online over the summer break.

This is the first time the three agencies have delivered a public warning to parents.

The announcement warns that online offenders will exploit the school holidays to engage in criminal acts with young people when they know less support is readily available.

Counter Terrorism Policing and the National Crime Agency are increasingly seeing children being routinely exposed to the most serious harmful online content, including sexual violence; self-harm and suicide content; extreme gore; animal cruelty; indecent images of children; and terrorist content.

Counter Terrorism Policing’s Senior National Coordinator for Prevent and Pursue, Vicki Evans, said:

“We know parents care deeply about keeping their children safe online and given the ever-developing digital world it can feel like an uphill battle.

“We want parents to empower their children to know what to do if they come across inappropriate content online.

“We of course encourage parents to activate parental controls on routers, devices, and apps, but this should be alongside conversations that give young people the tools and strategies to make the right decisions when online.

“If you haven’t already, please start the conversation about online safety as soon as possible.”

The National Crime Agency’s Director of Threat Leadership, Alexander Murray, said: “As outlined in our recent threat assessment, there is a fast-growing threat from sadistic and violent online gangs, made up predominantly of teenage boys, dedicated to inflicting harm and committing a range of criminality which includes fraud, cyber, child sexual abuse, violence and extremism/terror related offences.

“They are international and operate across multiple channels, including messaging apps, gaming platforms and other online forums.

“We are working closely with our partners in response to this complex threat, but we recommend that adults take time to understand the online lives of young people to help prevent them falling victim to these networks.”

2023 saw the highest number of terrorism arrests of young people since records began. That year, of the 219 people arrested for terrorism-related offences, 42 were aged 17 or under, meaning one in five terrorism arrests involved a child or young person. In 2024, 39 young people aged 17 or under were arrested for terrorism-related offences.

MI5’s Director General, Sir Ken McCallum said: “In 2024 I said that 13% of all those investigated by MI5 for involvement in terrorism were under 18. That deeply concerning presence of young people in our casework continues to this day.

“In a few short clicks, young people can be speaking to dangerous radicalising terrorists online, consuming violent and extremist content. Terrorists who understand online culture are using slick propaganda to pull young people down a dangerous and potentially life-changing path.”

In 2024, the leaders of counter terrorism for the ‘Five Eyes’ nations called for immediate international action to fight the growing threat to children posed by online extremism. The alliance published a paper calling for collective action from the public, governments and the tech industry to tackle the problem. Internet Matters provides practical advice to parents on how to help their children navigate the ever-changing digital landscape.

British Muslim Trust appointed partner to monitor and tackle anti-Muslim hatred

Polly Jones — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 11:49:41 +0000

The British Muslim Trust (BMT) has been selected as the recipient of the Combatting Hate Against Muslims Fund.

The fund was set up earlier this year to respond to evolving religious intolerance and targeted hate incidents faced by Muslim communities, which are currently at the highest level on record.

BMT will use the funding to develop a reporting system for online and offline incidents of anti-Muslim hatred, including those that are not reported to the police.

The organisation will also be able to provide direct support to victims, raise awareness of what constitutes a hate crime, and encourage greater reporting from affected communities.

Analysing the data, the BMT will help identify the trends and drivers behind the incidents, providing the government with the evidence needed to shape effective policy.

Lord Khan, Minister for Faith, said: "The rise of anti-Muslim hatred in this county is alarming and deeply concerning.

"That’s why we established this new fund: to ensure we’re doing everything we can to deeply understand the situation our Muslim communities are facing, provide them with the support they need and give us the tools needed to tackle this unacceptable hatred.

"I look forward to working with the British Muslim Trust on our shared ambition to create a safer, more tolerant society for everyone as part of our Plan for Change."

Missed opportunities to help girl charged with terrorism offences

Polly Jones — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 09:36:30 +0000

An inquest has found there were missed opportunities to help a girl who died by suicide after she was charged with terrorism offences after being groomed.

16-year-old Rhianan Rudd was the youngest girl charged with terrorism offences in the UK, and was was investigated by MI5 after she downloaded a bomb-making manual. Charges were dropped after the �鶹�� Office found that she was a victim of exploitation.

The teenager dies by suicide at a children's home in May 2022.

The inquest found that there missed chances for the police and Derbyshire County Council to refer Rudd earlier for consideration as a potential victim of modern slavery.

Chief coroner Alexia Durran also found there a "systems failure" by counter-terror police and the county council.

The inquest also found that no organisation was to blame for her death and it was "necessary and appropriate" to investigate and prosecute the teenager for terrorism offences.

The inquest heard how an American neo-Nazi had groomed and sexually exploited Rudd online and that she became fixated with Hitler. It was also found that she had been influenced by her mother's former partner who had previously been in a white supremacist gang.

Rudd's own mother had referred her daughter to Prevent in September 2020.

Assistant Chief Constable Di Coulson, speaking on behalf of Counter Terrorism Policing in the East Midlands (CTPEM) and Derbyshire Constabulary, said: “On behalf of policing, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to Rhianan’s family and loved ones for their terrible loss.

“This was a complex case involving a very vulnerable young person, who had been subjected to radicalisation.

“Rhianan’s tragic death was clearly devastating for her family. It was felt profoundly by the officers directly involved, but also across Counter Terrorism Policing as a whole.

“Rhianan’s case was a stark moment for our management of the growing numbers of children and young people in our casework – so often presenting vulnerability as well as risk and threat to the public.

“Since Rhianan’s death, we continue to work alongside our partners to evolve the way we approach cases involving children and, where feasible, attempt to rehabilitate and deradicalise, rather than investigate and convict.

“We welcome the findings of the Chief Coroner today, and while we have already made substantial improvements to the way we manage these cases, we will carefully review the findings and make any further changes in order to improve our protection of the public against terrorism.”

CT officers urge parents to be aware of radicalisation

Polly Jones — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Counter Terrorism officers from the Met Police are calling on London parents to be aware of signs that might indicate that a child could be vulnerable to radicalisation or being drawn into violent extremism.

The call comes after the Netflix drama Adolescence brought heightened media focus onto how children are increasingly being drawn into extreme and radical ideologies.

Detective Superintendent Jane Corrigan, who is the Met’s London Prevent Co-ordinator said: “The themes and storyline in Adolescence have sparked some incredibly important debate about dangerous rhetoric and ideologies that young schoolchildren can be exposed to through online and social media platforms.

“While it’s a fictitious drama, the story is grounded in �鶹�� that we are seeing more and more in our work within Counter Terrorism Policing. Young people are being referred into us, and in almost every instance, a big part of their vulnerability is coming from what they are doing, seeing and consuming online.

“But it’s actually those who aren’t being referred to us who most concern us. That’s why it is so important that parents and carers are taking an active interest in what their child is doing online - to have those conversations and be aware of the potential warning signs. And if following that, they are still concerned or worried about their child, then it’s really important they reach out for more help as quickly as possible."

While public and media attention has been brought to the topic as a result of Adolescence, those working within Counter Terrorism have been concerned for some time over the number of young people being radicalised.

2023 and 2024 were the highest two years on record in terms of the number of children aged 17 or under being arrested for terrorism related offences, with 43 and 39 such arrests respectively. In 2002, there were only three such arrests and even in 2019, the equivalent figure was as low as 12.

Meanwhile, six out of every ten Prevent referrals related to those aged 17 and under - up from around five in every ten back in 2016/17.

Detective Superintendent Corrigan added: “I appreciate that this might seem quite daunting or unsettling for some parents or carers. And while it is still only a very small proportion of young people who may actually be affected, parents must not be fooled into thinking that this is something that only happens to others. We’ve had referrals and provided support through Prevent to a whole range of children, relating to a whole mix of different ideologies.

Scotland to unite against far right extremism

Meghan Shaw — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:13:00 +0000

Scottish first minister John Swinney is to hold a pivotal gathering of Scottish society to combat and united against the “increasingly extreme far right”.

Representatives from key sectors like churches, trade unions and charities will be invited to attend a meeting in April, as well as the leaders of Scotland’s parliamentary parties.

Speaking at a press conference at Bute House, following the passage of the 2025-26, the first minister said the new gathering will be an opportunity to renew public trust in politics and unite Scotland around “democracy and respect”.

Mr Swinney said: “At the start of the year, I warned that failure to pass the budget would send a signal that Parliament and politics could not deliver. That failure would only serve the interests of an increasingly extreme far right and leave devolution dangerously exposed.

“But the budget has passed, and a different story can be told. Yesterday’s vote demonstrated that partnership and collaboration are possible. And that is something precious, something vitally important itself.

“But we must do more. It is time to come together to draw a line in the sand. To set out who we are and what we believe in.

“The threat from the far right is real. But that leaves me all the more convinced that working together is not only the right choice, but the only choice.

“That is why I want to share a new initiative to bring Scotland together in common cause. I want us to work together to agree a common approach to asserting the values of our country, to bringing people together and creating a cohesive society where everyone feels at home.

“It was a mobilisation of mainstream Scotland that delivered our parliament a quarter of a century ago. And I have no doubt, it is only be mobilising mainstream Scotland that we can protect those things we care most about, those things that are most important to us today.”