Public need to help tackle right wing extremism

Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu has called upon the public to help tackle right wing extremism by seeking help for those vulnerable to radicalisation.

Basu recently warned about the significant growth of right wing terrorism in the UK, revealing that nearly a third of terrorist attacks foiled since 2017 were linked to the ideology.

Police and security services have foiled 22 terror attacks since March 2017, with seven relating to right wing terrorism, representing more than 10 per cent of Counter Terrorism Police’s caseload, up from six per cent just two years ago, and the ideology accounted for 24 per cent of terrorism-related arrests in the 12 months to June 2019.

Home Office figures show that more people are trusting Prevent with their concerns about right wing extremism, with the number of referrals into the government’s safeguarding scheme nearly doubling to 18 per cent since 2015/16.

Basu said: “There is a small but growing threat from Right Wing Terrorism to the UK and we are working alongside our partners in the Security Services to combat it. We are dedicating more officers and more resources to tackle it, and together we are bringing the full might of the UK CT machine to bear against those who wish to do us harm or incite violence. The whole of society has a part to play in this fight. My officers might be on the frontline, but we cannot succeed without the help and support of the public.”