Susan Scholefield CMG Director General Cohesion and Resilience

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The threat to the UK

The threat in the UK from terrorism is Severe and sustained:

Security Service and Police are working to contend with around 30 plots, over 200 groupings or networks, totalling around 2000 individuals.There have been 16 plots primarily targeting the UK since 2000 (1 successful, 3 failed, 12 foiled).The Security Service and Police have disrupted 6 plots since July 2005.

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The Government’s CT Strategy

CONTEST

Prevent Protect Pursue Prepare

• Communities and Local Government

• Home Office

• Foreign & Commonwealth Office

• Intelligence Agencies

• DCSF, DIUS, DCMS

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What is CLG’s aim?

‘To build resilient communities able to challenge robustly the ideas of those violent extremists who seek to undermine our way of life’

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What is CLG’s vision?

A situation whereby all communities, and particularly British Muslim communities:

identify themselves, and are accepted, as part of a wider British society. reject and actively condemn violent extremism. develop community capacity to deal with problems where they arise. support counter terrorism work by the police and security services.

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UK Muslim Communities

60% of the UK Muslim communities reside in 25 Local Authority areas. The largest community clusters are in:• London• Birmingham• Bradford• Kirklees• Leicester

Within these communities:• 52% are under 25 • 16% are unemployed• 71% of Muslims in the UK are under 35 years of age• 68% of Muslim women of working age are economically inactive

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UK Muslim Attitudes

Strong feelings of denial: 51% of 18-24 year-old UK Muslims believed that 9/11 was a conspiracy by US and Israel (Channel Four, 2006). 56% of UK Muslims believed that the ‘War on Terror’ is a war on Islam (Populus, June 2006).

20% of UK Muslims felt some “sympathy” with motives of 7/7 bombers (ICM, February 2006).

79% of UK Muslims felt that hostility towards Muslim communities was increasing (Populus, June 2006).

46% of UK Muslims believed that Muslims have become more radical in their views towards British society. (ICM, February 2006)

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The Gallup World Poll 2007

London Muslims were as likely as the general public to condemn terrorist attacks on civilians (88% vs 92%).

London Muslims were more likely than the general public to find no moral justification for using violence for a ‘noble cause’ (81% vs 72%).

Despite widespread anti-US sentiment within the global Muslim population, only a small minority sympathized with the 9/11attacks.

No correlation was found between religiosity and violent extremism.

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What are we doing?

Action Plan, launched in April 2007, sets out our plans to engage with communities to prevent violent extremism under four headings:

Promoting Shared Values. Supporting Local Solutions. Building Civic capacity and Leadership. Strengthening the role of faith institutions and leaders.

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Promoting Shared Values

Defending and promoting our shared values: Broadening the provision of citizenship education in supplementary schools and madrassahs Ensuring the most effective use of the education system in promoting faith understanding. Continuing to support the successful Radical Middle Way Roadshows

Moving forward: Continue to promote equality of opportunity (e.g. economic participation) Taking forward the CIC recommendations on promoting cohesion and integration.

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Supporting Local Solutions

Working with local communities to deliver local solutions.

Supporting delivery through local authorities – including with the £6m Preventing Extremism Pathfinder Fund. Development of new Local Government Performance Indicator £45M to support local communities with local authorities over CSR period

Moving forward:

Refine and develop processes for deploying local funding. Identify and disseminate good practice, developing national frameworks where appropriate. Build on capacity building work with partners

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Building Civic Capacity and Leadership

Recognising that community voices speak the loudest:

Rebalancing Government’s engagement with Muslim organisations Strengthening the role that Muslim women and young people play within their communities Building the capacity of key strategicpartners Empowering community leaders and ensuring that their voices are heard

Moving Forward:

Promote links between Muslim communities here and overseas, to support the promotion of shared values and to tackle violent extremism.

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Strengthening the role of faith institutions and leaders

Helping faith institutions and leaders to engage effectively with all members of Muslim communities.

Working with the Charity Commission to raise standards of governance in faith institutions. Establishing a framework of minimumrequirements for all imams engaged by the state Delivering a fully-accredited ContinuousProfessional Development programme forFaith Leaders.

Moving Forward: Work with the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board to facilitate community ownership of these issues.

Susan Scholefield CMG Director General Cohesion and Resilience