Talk on how to spot extremism at hate-crime conference
A former police superintendent spoke about how universities and
colleges can stop students becoming radicalised in the fight against
terrorism during a major national conference in Bradford yesterday.
Steve Cotter, deputy national co-ordinator of Prevent, part of the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy, told delegates at the Community Cohesion Partnerships Conference it was important different organisations work together to spot warning signs that someone may hold extreme views that could lead to violence.
Prevent aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism by working with a range of sectors – including education, criminal justice, faith, charities, online and health – where there are risks of radicalisation that need to be dealt with.
Speaking during the event at Bradford College, Mr Cotter, who worked for West Yorkshire Police for 22 years, including spells in Bradford, said: “When you have got someone in your university or college and you have concerns, have you spoken to their families and said you feel they are not as happy-go-lucky as they used to be?
“That they are not being as forthright? They are pale and withdrawn, they don’t do the things they used to do anymore?
“That could be for a whole host of reasons, and we’re not saying it’s got to be about terrorism, but it’s something where people can say ‘are you okay?’ “That’s what we do in a cohesive society – look after each other.”
The police chief spoke about the UK’s terrorist strategy and how it aimed to prevent terrorist attacks, strengthen protection against potential incidents and minimise the impact.
Sophia Dinn, north east regional Prevent organiser, told the conference, which was attended by community representatives and policy makers from across the country: “Community cohesion and partnerships are the key to tackling extremism and terrorism.”
She gave one example where a university cleaner in the region found a student viewing an ‘inappropriate images’ on a computer only days after receiving training from Prevent.
“Without her training this might not have been raised previously, but she did on this occasion,” she said. “He was spoken to and this was dealt with before it entered criminal space.”
The conference, which was opened by Bradford College principal Michele Sutton, also heard from Sylvia Lancaster, who set up the Sophie Lancaster Foundation after her daughter was beaten to death for being a goth in Lancashire in 2007.
Delegates also heard a speech by Sonia Ghandi, the head of equality and human rights at Ofsted, as well as from colleges involved in running community cohesion projects.
Source: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/local/localbrad/10530496.Talk_on_how_to_spot_extremism_at_hate_crime_conference/
Steve Cotter, deputy national co-ordinator of Prevent, part of the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy, told delegates at the Community Cohesion Partnerships Conference it was important different organisations work together to spot warning signs that someone may hold extreme views that could lead to violence.
Prevent aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism by working with a range of sectors – including education, criminal justice, faith, charities, online and health – where there are risks of radicalisation that need to be dealt with.
Speaking during the event at Bradford College, Mr Cotter, who worked for West Yorkshire Police for 22 years, including spells in Bradford, said: “When you have got someone in your university or college and you have concerns, have you spoken to their families and said you feel they are not as happy-go-lucky as they used to be?
“That they are not being as forthright? They are pale and withdrawn, they don’t do the things they used to do anymore?
“That could be for a whole host of reasons, and we’re not saying it’s got to be about terrorism, but it’s something where people can say ‘are you okay?’ “That’s what we do in a cohesive society – look after each other.”
The police chief spoke about the UK’s terrorist strategy and how it aimed to prevent terrorist attacks, strengthen protection against potential incidents and minimise the impact.
Sophia Dinn, north east regional Prevent organiser, told the conference, which was attended by community representatives and policy makers from across the country: “Community cohesion and partnerships are the key to tackling extremism and terrorism.”
She gave one example where a university cleaner in the region found a student viewing an ‘inappropriate images’ on a computer only days after receiving training from Prevent.
“Without her training this might not have been raised previously, but she did on this occasion,” she said. “He was spoken to and this was dealt with before it entered criminal space.”
The conference, which was opened by Bradford College principal Michele Sutton, also heard from Sylvia Lancaster, who set up the Sophie Lancaster Foundation after her daughter was beaten to death for being a goth in Lancashire in 2007.
Delegates also heard a speech by Sonia Ghandi, the head of equality and human rights at Ofsted, as well as from colleges involved in running community cohesion projects.
Source: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/local/localbrad/10530496.Talk_on_how_to_spot_extremism_at_hate_crime_conference/
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