WALTHAM FOREST: Anti-terror strategy praised by ministers

8:36am Wednesday 4th June 2008

By Carl Brown

THREE senior cabinet members visited Waltham Forest to launch a counter-terrorism strategy that has been partly inspired by projects in the borough.

The Government's Prevent strategy is a national plan to stop people becoming terrorists or violent extremists.

It contains guidelines for councils, schools and community groups and the police.

The Home Office is also providing an extra £12.5million to fund projects that challenge extremism.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, Schools Secretary Ed Balls and Communities Secretary Hazel Blears visited the Pastures Youth Centre, in Davies Lane, Leytonstone, to launch the strategy.

The Ministers spoke to young people from the Active Change Foundation, based in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, and the Waltham Forest Young Muslim Leadership Scheme as well as pupils from Rush Croft School participating in a project pioneered by the council called Swapping Cultures.

All three projects have been cited by the Government as examples of the types of scheme it wants to promote under the Prevent strategy.

Ms Blears said: "It is a credit to the local authority that they have supported these types of project.

"We have not decided to come to Waltham Forest because we feel there is a particular problem with extremism in this area.

"It is because the local authority and other groups have been doing such good work."

Ms Blears denied the suggestion that the Prevent strategy is an unnecessarily top-down approach and said that councils often come to the Government asking it for advice on how to combat extremism.

She also denied a suggestion that changing the Government's foreign policy would lessen the threat of extremism.

Ms Blears added: "I think that is simplistic. There were attacks by al-Qaeda long before the Iraq war. But it is important that we debate these issues."

Council leader Clyde Loakes said the local authority deserves credit for taking a lead in the projects.

He said: "It is about building self-esteem and confidence so young people can challenge those people encouraging extremism.

"We have had three secretaries of state visit our borough today. That would never have happened a couple of years ago."

The Government says its new strategy will prevent people getting involved in extremism.

It includes advice for groups on how to work with vulnerable individuals and institutions to tackle radicalisation.

It supports mainstream voices and attempts to strengthen communities' ability to resist extremists.

A total of £12.5million will fund projects including extending police-led multi-agency projects, work in prisons and the community to tackle radicalisation among offenders and extra cash for grassroots projects.

Young people from three different projects in the borough chatted to the ministers about their ideas and experiences of tackling extremism.

The Waltham Forest Young Muslim Leaders development programme was set up with £60,000 of Government cash as a pilot project last August.

The programme consists of the Active Change Foundation (ACF), based in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton and the Leytonstone Muslim Community Centre.

ACF has worked with young people, mainly males, who live in the most deprived parts of Waltham Forest.

It teaches them about the risks of extremism as well as drugs, alcohol, anti-social behaviour and conflict resolution.

ACF director Hanif Qadir said the new Government initiative was "a step in the right direction" but a lot of work needs to be done.

Mr Qadir added: "For the first time central Government has realised that the key to tackling the problem is through local authorities and support from voluntary groups."

He said that the ACF's forte is that it can penetrate the wall of silence and reach the heart of communities susceptible to extremism. Leytonstone Muslim Communtiy Centre teaches young men and women about Islam and leadership skills.

Young Muslim leadership scheme member Shereen Qadir said: "It has given us an opportunity to look at the facts and speak face-to-face with people about the challenges that face our communities.

"Not only that, but it has developed a respect and understanding of other cultures and religions.

Swapping Cultures is a programme that uses discussion, music, art and performance to teach pupils about different cultures.

Pupils from Rush Croft School, in Rushcroft Road, Chingford, have taken part in the scheme, which has been praised for empowering young people to challenge racism.