Beds Police back new early Counter Terrorism Partnership with Netmums
Under 18s are being targeted online according to Counter Terrorism Policing
Bedfordshire Police is supporting a new partnership between Netmums and Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP).
The partnership with the popular parenting resource has revealed that only 28% of Netmums users surveyed know how to spot the signs of radicalisation – even as the targeting of children by extremists online reaches record levels.
With around four million parents visiting Netmums every month, CTP have joined forces to provide website users with information, exclusive resources and support to help educate parents about the dangers of radicalisation, the signs to spot and how to act to protect their children.
For the last 12 months, experts at CTP have warned about the worrying signs they are seeing in the UK’s Prevent and terrorism arrest data.
New statistics show children under the age of 18 made up 13% of all terrorism arrests in the year to 31 March 2021, nearly trebling from just 5% in the previous year.
While terrorism arrests across every other age group have fallen in the last year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic – 21 children under the age of 18 were arrested in the year to 31 March 2021, making them the only demographic to show an increase.
Much of this growth has been linked to children being targeted and radicalised by right wing extremists online – including through multi-player online gaming, YouTube and chat forums.
Detective Chief Inspector Keren Pope, Prevent lead at Counter Terrorism Policing at the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU), said:
“It’s really important that parents are aware of the potential dangers of radicalisation, and know the signs to look for.
“Becoming withdrawn, experiencing mental health issues, spending an increasing amount of time online and sharing extreme views on social media are just some of the signs that your children may be being radicalised.
“I’d encourage all parents in the eastern region to take a look at the Netmums campaign so that you can familiarise yourself with all of the signs and vulnerabilities relating to radicalisation, and if in any doubt at all then act early and share your concerns.”
Over the next couple of weeks, Netmums users will be able to access exclusive articles and digital content such as videos, as well as bespoke support provided by safeguarding experts via the website’s forum pages.
Associate Editor of Netmums, Wendy Golledge, said:
“Netmums is pleased to be working alongside Counter Terrorism Policing to raise awareness of the issue of radicalisation among children in the UK.
“As parents, we are all too aware of the dangers the online world can pose to our children, and while we're well versed in issues around social media and online bullying, as our survey demonstrated, we're less aware of radicalisation and how to spot the signs.
“Together we want to help parents keep their children safe online.”