As the number of children being arrested for terrorism offences
increases at an unprecedented rate, Counter Terrorism Policing
(CTP) have teamed up with the UK’s biggest parenting website –
Netmums – to help parents protect their children from terrorist
grooming.
The ground-breaking partnership with the popular parenting
resource has revealed that only 28% of Netmums users surveyed
know how to spot the signs of radicalisation – even as the
targeting of children by extremists online reaches record
levels.
With around four million parents visiting Netmums every month,
CTP have joined forces to provide website users with information,
exclusive resources and support to help educate parents about the
dangers of radicalisation, the signs to spot and how to act to
protect their children – just like they would against any other
type of online harm such as sexual exploitation or
cyber-bullying.
For the last 12 months, experts at CTP have warned about the
worrying signs they are seeing in the UK’s Prevent and terrorism
arrest data – with new statistics showing that children under the
age of 18 made up 13% of all terrorism arrests in the year to 31
March 2021, nearly trebling from just 5% in the previous
year.
While terrorism arrests across every other age group have fallen
in the last year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic – 21
children under the age of 18 were arrested in the year to 31
March 2021, making them the only demographic to show an
increase.
The increasing prevalence of young people in the extreme right
wing terrorism space is a particular concern, with much of this
growth resulting from children being targeted and radicalised by
right wing extremists online – including through multi-player
online gaming, YouTube and chat forums.
Of those 21 children arrested for terrorism offences in the last
financial year, 15 of them were linked to extreme right wing
terrorism. This worrying growth has been occurring since 2015,
when young people under the age of 24 accounted for less than 20%
of extreme right wing terrorism arrests – in 2020 they accounted
for nearly 60%.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. By acting early, it is
possible to stop someone from being exploited by extremists.
Prevent officers have the expertise, experience and resources to
help parents spot when their children are at risk of becoming
victims to radicalisation. Through the Prevent programme, working
with our partners, we can help save them before it is too
late.
“The trends we are seeing in our data are incredibly concerning,”
said Chief Superintendent Nik Adams, CTP’s National Coordinator
for Prevent.
“We must do more as a society to protect children from this
threat and CTP want to help parents, friends and families
recognise when children are becoming the victims of
radicalisation.
“Family and friends are best placed to spot the worrying
behaviour changes which can indicate that a loved one is heading
down a path towards terrorism, but currently just 2% of referrals
into Prevent come from that group.
“That is why we have teamed up with Netmums, to provide their
millions of users with clear, simple information about what to
look out for, and where to go for help.
“I am worried about what we are seeing, but I am also hopeful
that we can do something to stop it.
“Not all children are vulnerable, but some are, and all parents
should be aware of the dangers so they can help protect their
child if necessary.
“That requires parents, friends and family to help us by talking
to their children about what they view online, acting early to
share their concerns and seeking support if they fear someone
they love is in danger of being radicalised.
“Asking for help is a difficult and emotional step, but we must
see it for what it is – action which won’t ruin their lives but
may well save them. It is vital to act early.”
Associate Editor of Netmums, Wendy Golledge, said: “Netmums is
pleased to be working alongside Counter Terrorism Policing to
raise awareness of the issue of radicalisation among children in
the UK.
“As parents, we are all too aware of the dangers the online world
can pose to our children, and while we're well versed in issues
around social media and online bullying, as our survey
demonstrated, we're less aware of radicalisation and how to spot
the signs.
“Together we want to help parents keep their children safe
online.”
Over the next four weeks, Netmums users will be able to access
exclusive articles and digital content such as videos, as well as
bespoke support provided by safeguarding experts via the
website’s forum pages.
Netmums will also host a sponsored ‘drop-in clinic’ where parents
can ask a Prevent Officer questions and seek advice if they have
concerns.
Head to www.netmums.com to learn
more about the signs to spot and how to protect your children
from radicalisation.
If you are worried that someone you know is being radicalised,
visit www.Actearly.uk. You won’t
be wasting our time and you won’t ruin lives, but you might save
them.
For help and advice visit www.actearly.uk, or
call the national Police Prevent Advice Line on 0800 011 3764, in
confidence, and our specially trained Prevent officers will
listen carefully to your concerns.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Please note that Counter Terrorism Policing’s National Prevent
Coordinator, Chief Superintendent Nik Adams, will be available
for interview via Microsoft Teams and/or FaceTime audio between
8.30am – 10.15am on Tuesday 6th July. Please contact
CTP’s Media Manager, Chris Terris Taylor on 07785 417 239 to
arrange.
Key Stats
- Children under the age of 18 made up 13% of all terrorism
arrests in the year to 31 March 2021, nearly trebling from just
5% in the previous financial year.
- While terrorism arrests across every other age group have
fallen in the last year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic – 21
children under the age of 18 were arrested in the year to 31
March 2021, making them the only demographic to show an increase.
- Of those 21 children arrested for terrorism offences in the
last financial year, 15 of them were linked to extreme right wing
terrorism.
- In 2015, young people under the age of 24 accounted for less
than 20% of extreme right wing terrorism arrests – in 2020 they
accounted for nearly 60%.
Key national Prevent Statistics 2019/20 Published by the
Home Office on 26 November, 2020. Previous
year’s numbers in brackets
- Total number of referrals – 6287 (5738)
- Percentage of referrals from friends or family – 2% (2%)
- Percentage Islamist (where ideology identified) – 24% (24%)
- Percentage Extreme Right Wing (where ideology identified) – 22%
(24%)
- Percentage of mixed, unstable, unclear ideology - 51% (38%)
- Percentage aged under 15 – 25% (27%)
- Percentage male – 88% (87%)
