Cameron launches £5m drive to root out extremist ‘poison’
DAVID CAMERON today unveils a £5million drive to help root out the ‘poison’ of extremist ideology within British communities.
On the eve of the launch of the Government’s long-awaited counter-extremism strategy – billed as a plan to create a ‘national coalition’ against radicalisation – the Prime Minister said the money for local campaigns and charities would help prevent the ‘seed of hatred being planted i n people’s minds’.
The strategy is expected to include closer working together between internet firms and the police to remove online propaganda, employing sys- tems used to combat child abuse images.
There is also set to be a crackdown on extremism in prisons and universities, as well as incentives for schools to ensure pupils are better integrated.
Mr Cameron, who used his Conservative conference speech this month to deliver a blistering attack on ‘passive tolerance’ of extremism, said: ‘We need to systematically confront and challenge extremism and the ideologies that underpin it, exposing the lies and the destructive consequences it leaves in its wake.
‘We have to stop it at the start – stop this seed of hatred even being planted in people’s minds and cut off the oxygen it needs to grow.’
Mr Cameron said his new strategy would show that the Government had a comprehensive approach to ‘tackle this poison’.
The plan would target ‘violent and non-violent’ extremism, ‘actively support’ mainstream voices and tackle the ‘segregation and feelings of alienation’ that provide ‘fertile ground’ for radical ideologies.
The Prime Minister added: ‘At the core is building a national coalition of all those individuals and groups who are united in their determination to defeat extremism and build a more cohesive society.
‘We will do everything we can to support them – through my new Community Engagement Forum and with practical support and funding to tackle these deep-rooted issues.
‘The scale of the task is immense. That is why we need everyone to play their part.’
Downing Street said the £5million would be used this year to ‘build a national network of grassroots organisations’.