Ye
Bracknell Forest Partnership (BFP)
Board Meeting
20 November 2008, 10.00am
Prevent Strategy – Preventing Violent Extremism
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Following the rise in terrorism with an Islamic identity and the bombings in London in
July 2005, the Government has developed a new strategy called “Preventing Violent
Extremism: A Strategy for Delivery” to address the new terrorist threat facing this
country. The Prevent Strategy sets out a range of responses to counter the current
threat. This includes work to support the Islamic community and to engender
community cohesion which local authorities are expected to lead. This report sets out
the options for taking this work further within Bracknell Forest.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
2.1
The Bracknell Forest Partnership (BFP) Board is asked to endorse the
approach that the lead for work to prevent violent extremism should be the
BFP Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership with action co-ordinated
through the Bracknell Forest Community Cohesion and Engagement Working
Group.
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SUPPORTING INFORMATION
3.1
The Security Service website currently has the threat level to the UK as ‘Severe’, the
second highest level of threat and meaning exactly what it says. The site goes on to
say; ‘The threat of international terrorism comes from a diverse range of sources,
including Al Qaida and associated networks, and those who share Al Qaida's
ideology but do not have direct contact with them. A threat could manifest itself from
a lone individual or group, rather than a larger network’.
3.2
The government response to the terrorist threat has been the Contest strategy
introduced in 2003. Contest has four main ellements:
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•
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Prevent
Pursue
Protect
Prepare
The Prevent element of Contest contains 76 specific deliverable, the majority of
which are for delivery by the local authority and partners.
3.3
Two documents have been received by the Local Authority. ‘Prevent Strategy: A
Guide for Local Partners’ and ‘Preventing Violent Extremism: A Strategy for Delivery’.
These documents outline 5 key areas where the Local Authority will be expected to
be the lead organisation.
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•
•
•
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Challenging the violent extremist ideology and supporting mainstream voices
Disrupting those who promote violent extremism and supporting the institutions
where they are active
Supporting individuals who are being targeted and recruited to the cause of
violent extremism
Increasing the resilience of communities to violent extremism; and
Addressing the grievances that ideologues are exploiting.
The contribution from Thames Valley Police to the Prevent strategy includes:
•
•
•
•
Becoming the lead force hosting the South East Counter Terrorist Unit with
approximately 200 officers deployed throughout the SE
The appointment of a Prevent Force Manager who sits on the national Prevent
Board. (To be based at Maidenhead Police Station)
The appointment on each BCU of 1 counter intelligence officer and 2
engagement officers to work with the community and local authorities
The appointment of BCU Cohesion Inspectors (Insp. Liz Kirk for Berks East)
3.4
As part of its response, the Government launched the Pathfinder Fund in 2007 – 08
to provide resources to 70 priority local areas. It also launched the Community
Leadership Fund through the Department of Communities and Local Government
(DCLG). Bracknell Forest supported Windsor and Maidenhead bid to the DCLG for
an additional resource to work with the Islamic community in Windsor & Maidenhead
and Bracknell Forest which was unsuccessful. There may be an opportunity to make
further bids in the future.
3.5
The Prevent Strategy was first discussed at the Community Cohesion & Engagement
Working Group on 6 June where it was agreed to contact representatives from the
Bracknell Islamic Cultural Society to discuss ways to implement the strategy locally
and how to take full advantage of the joint Community Leadership Fund bid.
Considerable work has been done by Bracknell Forest Voluntary Action to support
and develop the formation of the Bracknell Islamic Cultural Society (BICS) and they
are key to helping partners work with the Islamic Community Locally.
3.6
The Bracknell Forest Community Safety Manager is a member of the Berkshire
Forum Against Extremism (BFAE). This group meets in Reading and includes
members from the Islamic community, the Reading Commission of Racial Equality
(CRE) and Thames Valley Police. One of the group, Mustafa Chaudhray of the
Reading Muslim Council, has provided support and advice for the Community
Leadership Fund bids. The Community Safety Manager will maintain membership of
the Berkshire Forum against Extremism. There is also specialist advice and support
available through GOSE.
3.7
The Prevent strategy cuts across several areas of local authority work. In particular,
Community Cohesion, Education and Community Safety but also will be dependant
upon the good will and support of other partners as well as the voluntary sector. It is
therefore important that the BFP agrees a process for the delivery of this strategy.
3.8
This is a sensitive area for the Partnership to address not least because any talk of
violent extremism is now frequently linked to Islam. Some have expressed the view
that violent extremism should be discussed in a wider context to avoid stigmatising
one section of the community. However, the DCLG report ‘Preventing Violent
Extremism’ states, ‘This is not about a clash of civilisations or a struggle between
Islam and “the West”. It is about standing up to a small fringe of terrorists and their
extremist supporters. Indeed, Government is committed to working in partnership
with the vast majority of Muslims who reject violence and who share core British
values in doing this’.
3.9
Mustafa Chaudhray has completed a report on behalf of BFAE among students from
four further education establishments in Berkshire, including the Bracknell &
Wokingham College, as well as the Reading Young Offenders Institution. There are 8
recommendations in the report (Appendix A) all of which have some impact on the
work of the Local Authority under the Prevent strategy.
3.10
There are resources available to help inform decision-making within the Borough.
Thames Valley Police have two members of staff dedicated to this agenda, Inspector
Liz Kirk and Mr Vip Mair. In addition, Mustafa Chaudhray would be prepared to be a
resource to give the Muslim perspective on the Prevent Strategy and the wider
Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) agenda and also to help develop links with the
local Muslim community Mr. Sajid Butt is a resource available from GOSE who has
also offered his support. Slough and Reading have been pathfinder areas for the
Prevent strategy and could also be invited to share their experiences.
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PRINCIPAL GROUPS CONSULTED
Thames Valley Police
Berkshire Forum Against Extremism
Reading Muslim Council
Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (Community Safety)
Background Papers:
Prevent Strategy: A Guide for Local Partners: Part 1 & 2
Preventing Violent Extremism: A strategy for delivery.
http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/prevent-strategy/
http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/prevent-strategy/
Contact for further information:
Ian Boswell
Community Safety Manager
Crime & Disorder Reduction Team
01344 352121
[email protected]
Section 10 Recommendations
APPENDIX A
We would recommend that the successor project to BFAE does the following:
1.
Develop long-term, sustainable partnerships between educational establishments
and local organisations to support young people in dealing with issues around
extremism. One off, high profile events like those delivered by the BFAE are very
effective at raising awareness but need to be followed up by activities which take
place on a more regular basis to gain trust and build confidence of young people and
staff.
2.
Concentrate on Local Authority areas for future work involving PVE and coordinate
regionally between Local Authority areas in terms of networking and sharing best
practice. Project collaboration should be at the discretion of Local Authorities where
clear outcomes can be identified. A local approach will be able to yield a stronger
community response.
3.
Avoid using the terms ‘violent’ and ‘extremism’ in a way that can stigmatise the
Muslim Community. Adopt a Community Cohesion approach to minimise alienation
of any one community and encourage all communities to tackle problems of common
concern together.
4.
Address the imbalance in focussing on extremism in the name of Islam. Future work
must incorporate clear and robust strategies for tackling right-wing extremism and
hatred towards Islam and Muslims. Participants in (RFAE and) BFAE projects have
raised this issue consistently in feedback. This imbalance is also now identified more
explicitly in the Prevent Strategy 2008 under the objective of addressing grievances.
5.
Coordinate future work closely with Muslim and wider community organisations – as
the overall focus of Prevent Strategy 2008 and NI35 is on Muslims, success can only
come with good cooperation from these groups.
6.
Get wider representation from Muslim organisations and more input from the Local
Authority on any future steering group.
7.
Devolve funding, on a pump-priming basis, to build capacity of established
community organisations which have the relevant cultural competency to engage
communities and deliver projects. Established community organisations have the
trust of communities which is vital for any engagement to be real and productive, but
need to be supported to take on additional responsibilities.
8.
The over-arching recommendation is to work closely with the Muslim Community in
sustainable partnerships, as opposed to working in the Muslim Community.
Taken as a whole, the above recommendations address the Prevent Strategy 2008 and
NI35 in a way that will reduce the risk of causing harm (to the Muslim community in
Bracknell Forest.)