Extremism in all its forms, including far right such as the English Defence League, will not go uncontested, Security Minister James Brokenshire said in a speech to Kings College.
In a speech on March 13, Mr Brokenshire reiterated the government’s determination to tackle far right extremism and set out some of the work that is already taking place.
This includes:
Funding for a specialist internet counter-terrorism police unit which looks online content and where it breaches terrorism legislation, takes action to have it removed. So far more than 2000 sites have been taken down by the unit
Trained thousands of frontline staff in schools, prisons, social services and health in how to identify individuals being who are vulnerable to extremists and challenge those ideologies
Funding for projects to confront extremism, including far-right ideologies, and promote integration in areas that are considered high risk
Banning extremist speakers wherever possible from coming to the UK to preach hatred
Where extremism leads to criminality using the full force of the law – in 2011, 17 people were serving prison sentences for terror offences linked to far right extremism
James Brokenshire said: ‘We have begun to see a worrying phenomenon on our streets; groups such as the English Defence League inflaming tensions and spreading hate-filled prejudice within communities.
‘Let me be clear – no matter what the threat, no matter what the brand of extremism – this government has said from the start we will not allow terrorists and extremists the freedom to go uncontested.’
