New practitioner network to tackle extremism

The Commission for Countering Extremism has launched a pilot network bringing together experts in counter extremism to help align policy, practice and research.

Created to help further support counter extremism work, the new Academic-Practitioner Counter Extremism Network (APCEN) is made up of members from: the Commission for Countering Extremism, national, regional and local government practitioners working in counter extremism, as well as leading academics.

The first meeting focused on the relationship between extremism and conspiracy theories, and included a presentation from Professor Paul Gill on conspiracy beliefs and violent extremist intentions.

Moving forward, the group will meet six times a year, and will also help to identify gaps in the understanding of extremism and counter extremism and seek to support future research.