Fears over two-tier policing are an ‘extreme right wing narrative’, a leaked Home Office report claims.
The review of extremism highlighted the issue of grooming gangs, also known as ‘alleged group-based sexual abuse,’ which has been exploited by the far-right to fuel hatred against Muslims.
Recommendations from the report included a call for an increase in police utilization of contentious ‘non-crime hate incidents’ and the introduction of a new offense labeled ‘harmful communications’ aimed at addressing online abuse targeted at Members of Parliament. However, this move sparked concerns regarding the potential impact on freedom of speech.
A new strategy to combat extremism, referred to as a ‘rapid analytical sprint,’ was initiated by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper following the Southport killings and ensuing riots last summer. This strategy proposes a shift towards focusing on individuals’ actions and the harm they cause, rather than solely on the ideologies they align with.
It says there is now a ‘more diverse’ range of extremist beliefs ranging from anarchists and environmental protesters to those obsessed by school massacres and an online subculture of misogynists called the ‘manosphere’.
But experts at the Policy Exchange think-tank, who were shown a copy of the unpublished Home Office document, say this means downplaying the risks posed by radical Islamism and overwhelming the Prevent teams who try to try to stop those who have been radicalised turning to terrorism.
Authors of the report, Paul Stott and Andrew Gilligan, said last night: ‘Many of these supposed other extremisms simply do not meet the test of harming national security or safety.
‘Government should certainly be alarmed by, and should tackle, violence against women and other social harms – but they do not constitute extremism as defined up till now.
The ‘rapid analytical sprint’ launched by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (pictured) in the wake of the Southport killings and the riots they sparked last summer also proposes a new approach to counter-extremism
Rioters in Rotherham during Summers widespread unrest. One section of the report refers to the idea which gained popularity in the wake of last summer’s riots that police and courts treat white offenders more severely than those from ethnic minorities
Rioters in Rotherham last summer. The report claims: ‘Right Wing Extremist narratives (particularly around immigration and policing) are in some cases ‘leaking’ into mainstream debates’
Axel Rudakubana (pictured) was sentenced last week for a minimum of 52 years behind bars after he murdered three young girls at Taylor Swift themed Dance Class in July
‘This new approach risks swamping already stretched counter-extremism interveners and counter-terror police with tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of new cases, making it more likely that dangerous people will be missed.
‘Some of the definitions of extremism are also threaten free speech, defining aspects of normal and legitimate political debate as extremist.’
And Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: ‘I’m appalled that the Government is once again smearing as ‘far right’ those who raise concerns about young girls being gang raped.
‘By extending the definition of extremism so widely, the Government risks losing focus on ideologically motivated terrorists who pose the most risk to life.’
The leaked review admits counter-extremism has ‘long been a tricky policy challenge for Government’ as extremism is broader than terrorism and covers everything from stirring up community tensions to spreading conspiracy theories.
It states: ‘The range of extremist beliefs and ideologies individuals subscribe to is becoming more diverse, from Extreme Right-Wing to Islamist Extremism to Extreme Misogyny to Left-Wing, Anarchist and Single-Issue Extremism.
‘Additionally, school massacre and online gore subcultures and conspiracy theories, while not ideologies, can lead to harmful fixations on violence.’
The claims in the document, written in November, were backed by Sir Keir Starmer last week when he warned of a ‘new threat’ of extreme violence from ‘loners, misfits, young men in their bedroom’.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp (pictured) said: ‘I’m appalled that the Government is once again smearing as ‘far right’ those who raise concerns about young girls being gang raped’
And the sections on Extreme Right Wing ideology also echo the Prime Minister’s controversial claims that people who held protests over the Southport killings were ‘far-right’ and that politicians calling for a national inquiry into grooming gangs were ‘amplifying what the far-right is saying’.
One page mentions grooming gangs as an example of ‘grievance narratives’ that can be exploited, stating: ‘Right Wing extremists frequently exploit cases of alleged group-based sexual abuse to promote anti-Muslim sentiment as well as related anti-government and anti-‘political correctness’ narratives.’
Another section refers to the idea which gained popularity in the wake of last summer’s riots that police and courts treat white offenders more severely than those from ethnic minorities.
It claims: ‘Right Wing Extremist narratives (particularly around immigration and policing) are in some cases ‘leaking’ into mainstream debates.
‘Claims of ‘two-tier’ policing, where two groups are allegedly treated differently after similar behaviour, is a recent example.’
And a discussion of tactics states: ‘ERW actors have engaged in protest and at times violence. This often involves hijacking extant local grievances about perceived inequalities around access to resources (eg benefits, migrant ‘hotels’ etc).’
The report urges the Government to adopt an ‘ideologically agnostic approach to extremism, not basing its approach on a strict definition but on ‘behaviours and activity of concern’.
It recommends a ‘wider approach’ to tackle the problem including new ‘punitive measures’.
Police officers in Manchester. The report urged ministers to increase police use of controversial ‘non-crime hate incidents’
This could mean a reversal of the Tories’ clampdown on police recording Non Crime Hate Incidents over petty squabbles and online spats, as well as reviving a new offence of ‘harmful communications’ which had previously been rejected on the grounds it could see social media users jailed for hurting others’ feelings.
The report highlights growing ‘harassment and intimidation of elected officials’ as an issue that can be tackled by the new crime, along with making every category of hate crime an aggravated offence.
Last night the Home Office stressed that none of the 38 recommendations in the report have been agreed by ministers so far.
A spokesman said: ‘The counter extremism sprint sought to comprehensively assess the challenge facing our country and lay the foundations for a new approach to tackling extremism – so we can stop people being drawn towards hateful ideologies. This includes tackling Islamism and Extreme Right Wing ideologies, which are the most prominent today.
‘The findings from the sprint have not been formally agreed by Ministers and we are considering a wide range of potential next steps arising from that work.’
