We must protect young minds from hate preachers

MAX Hill QC is dangerously out of touch [“Now terror czar warns: Don’t jail hate preachers”, October 24]. Why should we wait for a terrorist atrocity to be foiled moments prior to potential devastation, or worse still for it to happen, before we can silence hate preachers?

No decent person thinks it is acceptable to spout such poison, and those found doing so should be removed from society. This is just another example of protecting the guilty for the sake of political correctness rather than protecting the innocent.

It is this attitude to terrorism that is fuelling the separatism in our society.

YOU are right to say that Max Hill QC is wrong in suggesting legislation is not the way to tackle terrorism [Comment, October 24].

The police, the security services and the courts can deal with acts of terrorism, of course, but we must tackle the causes and we must take measures against those who hide behind our free and tolerant society to radicalise, exploit and incite those who commit the offences. IN ORDER to tackle terrorism, all expressions of plotting or committing acts of terrorism must be dealt with as a crime and punishable offence.

We should not spare someone who spreads jihadism or terrorism through speeches or by action. Lawenforcement agencies should not wait if any terrorist activity is at the planning stage and waiting to be carried out.

We have plenty of examples of hate preachers poisoning young minds and there are pupils who have left Britain to join militant groups. Tough measures must be taken against these hate preachers.

I SYMPATHISE and agree with Max Hill QC that fighters who joined IS were naive and must be integrated back into society, rather than punished. But operating with this overall stance would send the wrong message as we face the growing threat of terrorism.

A better idea would be to judge each case on its individual merit, rather than take a hard-line stance such as banning orders. With young people easily susceptible to hate preaching and radicalisation, we must focus on limiting the influence of hate preaching.

We have seen what preachers are capable of if we give them a platform. We must continue in our mission of limiting the effects of terrorism in our society — but it must be done fairly.