Cameron outlines new measures to tackle extremism

Prime Minister David Cameron has outlined new measures to tackle home grown extremism in a keynote speech on 20 July.

Opening his speech, Cameron claimed that to tackle extremism, first we must understand why it is happening. He outlined what he calls the “grievance justification”, which places the blame for extremism on “historic injustices”, “recent wars”, “poverty” or “hardship”. Cameron said that this view point must be challenged, and that while these factors are important, if these issues were all tackled people would still be drawn to extremism.

Instead, Cameron posited that “the root cause of the threat we face is the extremist ideology itself”, which he claimed draws young people in due to four main reasons: “…one, like any extreme doctrine it can seem energising, especially to young people…

“Two, you don’t have to be barbaric violence to be drawn to the ideology, no one becomes a terrorist from a standing start, it starts with a process of radicalisation…

“Three, the adherents of this ideology are overpowering other voices within muslim debate, especially those trying to challenge it…

“Four, there is also the question of identity… we have to confront a tragic truth that there are people born and raised in this country who don’t really identify with Britain.”

Cameron claimed that the UK must “de-glamorise” the extremist cause by taking “its component parts to pieces”.

He added: “We should expose their extremism for what it is – a belief system that glorifies violence and subjugates its people…

“…not least Muslim people.

“We should contrast their bigotry, aggression and theocracy with our values.”

The Prime Minister then went on to outline a summary of new measures that will be implemented to help tackle extremism within the UK. The government will look to set up a new scheme that will allow parents to cancel the passports of their children if they fear they are trying to leave for Syria. They will also consult on new legislation that would provide lifetime anonymity for victims of forced marriage.

Additionally, Cameron said that the government will look at social housing to try and prevent segregated communities. Schools will be incentivised to become more integrated, introducing new measures such as shared school sites and the creation of new free schools in the most segregated areas. There will be an overhaul of the way extremism is tackled in prisons, and new powers will be given to prevent hate speech through public forums and foreign television channels, with Universities urged to do more to challenge extremist speech.