Teachers and other adults must be equipped to challenge teenagers who encounter extremist material online
The number of people known to be involved in far-right extremism in Britain remains very small. But as this week’s Guardian investigation has shown, there is reason to be concerned about the age at which a minority of boys are being influenced online by far-right views, including racism and misogyny. In January, a 13-year-old from Darlington became the youngest person to be convicted of terrorism offences. Teachers and headteachers are struggling to deal with the kinds of language and attitudes that pupils come across on their devices and then bring into classrooms.
Given that 19 out of 20 children arrested last year for terrorism offences were linked to extreme rightwing ideology, the suggestion made in a leaked draft of William Shawcross’s review of the Prevent programme that far-right activists have received disproportionate attention compared with Islamists seems highly questionable – at least with regard to young people. When the review is finalised it should address teachers’ concerns. These relate to the tools available to tackle a growing problem, as well as the problem itself. Safeguarding training for education professionals, youth workers and others must extend to recognising where pupils have been harmed by material seen or read online. These adults need the confidence and knowledge to engage with and challenge young people – mostly teenagers – when they display such influences.
