PREVENT: As part of a week of action, Police across the country held events and activities to educate the public on the threat of radicalisation (pictured, Dewsbury teen, Talha Aslam, who fled to Syria to join Islamic State earlier this year)
PREVENT: As part of a week of action, Police across the country held events and activities to educate the public on the threat of radicalisation (pictured, Dewsbury teen, Talha Aslam, who fled to Syria to join Islamic State earlier this year)

Youngsters urged to speak to officers about radicalisation

After results from a new survey revealed high levels of confidence amongst young people to tell police their concerns about the threat of radicalisation, a week of activities has been held across the UK.

More than 500 frontline police officers and staff took part in the project – running from 7th until 11th September, whereby local policing teams worked with Prevent Engagement Officers to inform the public on how to spot threats and report suspicious behaviour.

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Local Policing, Chief Constable Simon Cole said: “We can only reduce the threat we face from terrorism and domestic extremism if we all play a part in preventing young people from being radicalised.  This is why local communities and families have a vital role to play in helping to prevent tragedies on our doorstep.

“It is reassuring to see that that people are putting their trust in the police and coming to us for advice and support, as well as from their family network”.

Over 50 events across the North East region took place during the National Prevent Policing week, which was held in partnership with local authority’s across the region.

Advice on staying safe online and the issues surrounding online radicalisation were spoke about in schools, youth groups, further education establishments and women’s groups.

Meanwhile, members of the public have also been taking part in community forums, helping to establish further anonymous statistics which will help the force better understand the public’s viewpoints.

Detective Superintendent Mick Hunter is the Police Regional Prevent Coordinator for the North East.

He said: “On a daily basis, Prevent officers work very hard with all sections of the community to strengthen their resilience to negative influences.

“[Last] week we stepped up our engagement activity further to try and increase public awareness about the risks of radicalisation and what we can do to help.”