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Councils urged to take action on extremism or lose funding
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor10.12.08
COUNCILS were today told by ministers to focus more strongly on tackling violent extremists, and warned that they could lose funding if they failed to act.
In speeches in London, both Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said there needed to be a greater emphasis on "confronting" the "sharper end" of militant ideology, including directly targeting extremist leaders.
They said that it was no longer sufficient for councils to focus simply on promoting improved community cohesion if, at the same time, a minority of radicals were allowed to operate unhindered to inflame opinion and lay the groundwork for potential terrorist activity. The ministers added that inaction risked allowing extremists to target the young and other vulnerable individuals and warned that some local authorities could lose funding if they failed to adopt a more robust approach to tackling radicalism.
Although neither minister criticised any local authority directly, recent cases - such as the revelation by the Evening Standard that a speech by banned extremist cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed was broadcast during a meeting in a hall hired from Tower Hamlets council - have highlighted concerns about the way in which radical ideology is being promoted in communities.
In her speech, Ms Blears said that many councils had engaged in positive work, such as training imams in English, but warned that a tougher approach was needed.
"Even the most cohesive communities can harbour extremist activity," she said.
"Building community cohesion is not the cure all in protecting vulnerable young people or wider society from the threat of violent extremism. That means working with the whole community and a focus on shared values alongside activity targeted specifically at individuals who are most at risk.
"That requires tough decisions, difficult debates, moving into uncomfortable and new territory and going beyond the usual people, usual ways of doing things and usual places of doing them."
Ms Blear's speech came as the Government published the findings of a report on the impact of 261 different projects around the country designed to tackle the spread of extremism.
It found that the projects - which include arts and sports activities and discussion groups - had reached more 44,000 people, but that there has been so far been only limited work to combat the most hardline extremists and the ideology they espouse.
In response to the findings, ministers have now written to local authorities saying that each one needs to respond to this problem seriously and warning that a review of funding is currently underway to ensure that this happens.
Reader views (4)
In years past before Nulabour, diversity, political correctness, multiculturalism and the Human Rights Act were born this was dealt with by the Police/Government whom had an responsibility to protect the public. Now days the same Government that has changed the landscape of this Country wipes its hands of the matter and blames everyone else.
- Roger, Surrey.
The way to eliminate all kinds of extremism is in doing "Justice". "Justice", as we all know is an extinct species today.
People throughout the world have suffered extremism and terrorism during the last 500 years.
The people in Vietnam also came out to resist extremism and terrorism. Other nations today, have also been compelled to do exactly what the Vietnamese were compelled to do.
Why is there no bloodshed in Vietnam today and why is it still ongoing in Iraq and Afghanistan not forgetting the millions of S. Americans who endured such bloodshed in recent past.
There is no harm in searching ones' soul before casting one's stone on others, provided one has a soul. All those casting their stones today seem to be devoid of any soul or any trace of morality in them.
Do people like Bush and Blair appear to own any soul or any trace of morality?
- H W, Nesconset. N.Y.
How will this work?Most if not all Labour boroughs go out of their way to encourage extremism judging by the staff.
- Steve, London
Yet more responsibility 'delgated' by Labour from central government to local government, no doubt resulting in either an increase in Counncil Tax or a reduction in local services. Dealing with such issues should be the responsibility of the Home Office (and therefore paid out of central taxation) NOT local councils. If councils try to act it will in all probability fall foul of the Human Rights Act - enacted by Labour
- Malcolm, London
