CTP launch ‘letter to my younger self’ videos

Counter Terrorism Policing are taking their groundbreaking ACT Early counter radicalisation campaign directly to young people, with innovative new first-person videos.

Following the ‘perfect storm’ of the last year, in which children and young people have spent more time at home, online and out of education – putting them at risk of radicalisation and conspiracy theories, CT Policing and its partners are stepping up their ACT Early campaign, to help prevent young people going down this dangerous path.

On the back of a successful partnership with Netmums, CT Policing is now appealing directly to young people themselves to be aware of the signs to spot and what to do if they are concerned about someone they know.

The first two of three new ‘letters to my younger self’ videos have been released on the ACT Early website and CT Policing social media channels this week, using first hand testimony of real-life stories from people who have been through a radicalisation process or lost loved ones to it.

The films bring to life the words of Micheal and Mustafa through animation and dance. Micheal lost his brother Thomas to Islamist extremism, after Thomas died while fighting for a terrorist group abroad. Mustafa was a follower of multiple radical clerics, and himself expressed and promoted extreme views.

Detective Superintendent Vicky Washington, CTP’s National Prevent Coordinator, said: “With more and more young people at risk of radicalisation, we all need to play our part in stopping vulnerable individuals from being caught up in extremism and terrorism. Our ACT Early campaign is an amazing resource for parents, friends and family who want to learn about the signs to spot, and what to do if they do have a concern about someone they care about. These new films are a powerful and creative tool that add to that campaign, and will help us speak directly to young people themselves on social media, in schools or wherever they are.”