Britain taking new steps to combat extremist groups

Critics worry the ramping up of anti-extremism measures may prove counterproductive by alienating and further disenfranchising Muslims. In responding to this poisonous ideology, we face a choice.

As a government, I know we must own this problem. This strategy therefore addresses the full spectrum of extremism: violent and non-violent, Islamist and neo-Nazi – hate and fear in all their forms.

The Government also said it will toughen the rules around gaining British citizenship.

Over the past year there have been a number of cases of young Britons travelling to join Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, as well as the prosecution of the UK’s youngest terrorist, a 15-year-old boy convicted of inciting another person to commit an act of terrorism overseas.

The mechanism has already been used on several under-16s since it was introduced in July, and will now be available for 16- and 17-year-olds.

It is expected to include more cooperation between police and internet firms to remove propaganda on the web and a crackdown on extremism in prisons and educational institutions.

Under the new plans, anyone with a previous conviction for extremist activity will also be banned from working with children and vulnerable people, with such people treated very similarly as sex offenders by authorities.

“Defeating our enemies will take time, patience and will require us constantly to adapt”, Cameron wrote in an article for the Times on Monday ahead of a scheduled speech. But our Muslim communities must own it too. “The scale of the task is huge and that is why we need everyone to play their part”.

It will slap “extremism disruption orders” on those seeking to radicalise young people online, banning them from using the internet or communicating via social media and close mosques where extremist meetings have taken place. We need the help of everyone, including our faith communities.

“It is for everyone to fight extremism”.

“If we are to have such lists at all, they should be determined through a transparent process and subject to judicial oversight to prevent any discrimination and political interference based on pressure from foreign governments”.

The prime minister will signal that the government will revive the so-called “snooper’s charter”.

“Those things are important but no one becomes a terrorist from a standing start”. And added that there needs to be “clarity” around whether the new strategy was about empowering civil society or improving security.