LEICESTER TO RECEIVE HOME OFFICE CASH TO TACKLE EXTREMISM

Here's an interseting article from today's Leicester Mercury. As has been mentioned previously on the blog, Leicester Council of Faiths has never been invited to participate directly in any activities related to the Prevent agenda, nor has it ever received any money from the funds available for that purpose.

Leicester to receive Home Office cash to tackle extremism

A Government anti-terrorism strategy has identified Leicester as a potential hotspot for extremism.

The city will now be eligible for a slice of the Home Office's £63 million-a-year Prevent fund to set up projects and schemes to counter extremism.

Home Secretary Theresa May said: "Prevent aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

"Our new strategy will challenge extremist ideology, help protect institutions from extremists and tackle the radicalisation of vulnerable people.

"Above all, it will tackle the threat from home-grown terrorism."

The original Prevent strategy was set up in the wake of the July 7, 2005, London bombings.

However, the Government said it had been ineffective and wasteful and that some of the cash had ended up in the hands of extremists.

Under the new scheme, Leicester City Council will have to appoint a dedicated Prevent co-ordinator, funded by the Home Office.

The co-ordinator will have to set out "clear, focused activities" and councils will have to set up a partnership, involving police, children's services and other agencies.

It could run projects working with schools, universities or community groups to identify and support individuals at risk of radicalisation or promoting mainstream leaders in communities so that moderate voices are heard.

Suleman Nagdi, of the Leicester Federation of Muslim Organisations, welcomed the strategy but said he was concerned it was just aimed at Muslims.

He said: "Violent extremism is an unfortunate phenomenon that is a feature of various groups and any counter-terrorism measures need to take this into consideration.

"In failing to acknowledge the presence of violent extremism in other communities and presenting it as an Islamic phenomenon, the Government has wantonly ignored the threat posed to the security of the UK from other groups.

"This is particularly pertinent as we have seen people from the far-right charged and convicted for acts of terrorism.

"By singling out one group so starkly, the Government may have risked alienating further, people who feel that they are on the margins of society.

'The federation remains committed to remaining at the forefront in the war against violent extremism in all its guises."

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "I have no doubt we will be able to use the money to promote community cohesion, though we are all a bit wary about money that is targeted at one section of the community."

Leicester Council of Faiths chairman Manjula Sood said: "We are lucky in Leicester that we have harmonious relations but we cannot be complacent.

"Extremists target the young and the vulnerable. I hope some of this money will help young people get jobs and stability so they are not tempted down the wrong path."