Radicalisation – What does it have to do with me?

Usually occurring online, via apps and games, or through propaganda that shares extremist views and encourages others to adopt the same ideologies, radicalisation can happen to anyone.

Particularly susceptible individuals are those who may have experienced significant life events such as family breakdown or bereavement, abuse (including familial abuse or bullying), mental health issues, feelings of isolation, or perhaps they may have been a victim of crime (including hate crime).

How can it happen?

Here is a one young man’s story, documented by Channel 4 News, of how it happened to him:

Channel 4 News; Length: 6:23

Do you know how to find out if any demonstrations are happening in your area? What risk does this pose to you? What are the other main risks in your local area?

Find out by clicking on the nationwide Police.uk site: Your area | Police.uk

Do you know how to recognise the signs of radicalisation in friends and colleagues?

Someone you know may show behaviours like seeming withdrawn or isolated, they might be fixated on one new subject such as immigration; they may show signs of being influenced or controlled by a particular group or individual, perhaps showing signs of anger or stress, lying to their family or friends, handing out literature or maybe they have changed their friendship group.

They may be seeking excitement and adventure, searching for an identity, meaning and belonging; they might demonstrate a disregard for differing opinions, being closed to discussion and other views, or they might demonstrate a desire for political or moral change.

If one of your friends appears to be getting involved in extremist communications and organisations, what would you do?

Talk to your Line Manager, your organisation’s Safeguarding Lead, or contact JGA’s Safeguarding team at safeguarding@jga-group.co.uk.

Here’s a link to the Police.uk site providing advice and contact details to discuss a concern: How to report possible terrorist activity.

Report content online: Report online material promoting terrorism or extremism (gov.uk).

Facts and Figures

  • Currently, 80% of UK threats come from Islamic Extremism, and 20% is from Far Right Extremism; the threat from the Far Right has been fast growing.
  • Most referrals were of males – 89%.
  • From 2001 – 2020, under 18 year olds accounted for 4-6% of referrals – but from 2020, this increased to 19%.
  • Those aged 15 to 20 accounted for the largest proportion – 30%, and under 15 account for an increased proportion of referrals – 29%.
  • Security Services have stopped 37 ‘late-stage’ terror attacks since 2017.
  • Lone Individuals acting as “Self-Initiating Terrorists” is now the most likely attack methodology of the next successful terrorist attack in the UK – not the larger groups such as Hamas.