{"id":93792,"date":"2018-07-10T23:15:00","date_gmt":"2018-07-10T23:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=fcd8d2d5ca98d8bb694147b3fbf8df3a"},"modified":"2018-07-10T23:15:00","modified_gmt":"2018-07-10T23:15:00","slug":"press-release-commission-for-countering-extremism-launches-evidence-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=93792","title":{"rendered":"Press release: Commission for Countering Extremism launches evidence drive"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"govspeak\">\n<p>The independent Commission for Countering Extremism (<abbr title=\"The Commission for Countering Extremism\">CCE<\/abbr>) is today (Wednesday 11 July) launching an intensive period of evidence gathering with the aim of publishing a first-of-its-kind study into all forms of extremism.<\/p>\n<p>Lead Commissioner Sara Khan says she is willing to be as radical as needed, when it comes to looking at how to counter extremism in the future.<\/p>\n<p>Neither the issue of terrorism nor the government\u2019s counter terrorism strategy (which includes Prevent) are in the <abbr title=\"The Commission for Countering Extremism\">CCE<\/abbr>\u2019s remit.<\/p>\n<p>Lead Commissioner Sara Khan says she wants to show people the deep, chronic harm extremism causes in communities.<\/p>\n<p>In the coming months, the <abbr title=\"The Commission for Countering Extremism\">CCE<\/abbr> will review existing academic evidence on extremism, commission bespoke research and issue a public call for evidence. Sara wants to hear from victims, their families and all those that counter extremism.<\/p>\n<p>The government has already committed to sharing information with the commission.<\/p>\n<p>The <abbr title=\"The Commission for Countering Extremism\">CCE<\/abbr> will also ask regulators, local councils and police forces, universities and other public and private bodies to share information on extremism.<\/p>\n<p>The evidence drive and comprehensive study will, Sara explains, help build greater understanding of extremism and engage more people than ever in tackling it.<\/p>\n<p>Marking the launch Sara reveals she has already met more than 300 experts and activists, and visited ten towns and cities.<\/p>\n<p>She has identified critical issues for the Commission to investigate as part of its study:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>communities are deeply concerned about extremism &#8211; the <abbr title=\"The Commission for Countering Extremism\">CCE<\/abbr> will investigate the scale of the problem; the changing tactics of extremists and the harm extremism causes in communities<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>we have the start of a powerful counter extremism movement but brave individuals and groups face abuse and vilification &#8211; the <abbr title=\"The Commission for Countering Extremism\">CCE<\/abbr> will investigate the current response to extremism and how we can help everyone to do more challenge extremism<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>the public debate on extremism is increasingly polarised, leaving some nervous about speaking out &#8211; the <abbr title=\"The Commission for Countering Extremism\">CCE<\/abbr> will consider how we can have a constructive and civilised debate on the issue<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In a further announcement, Sara today confirms that she has created a new Expert Group to advise and challenge the <abbr title=\"The Commission for Countering Extremism\">CCE<\/abbr> on its work.<\/p>\n<p>The experienced and diverse panel includes grassroots activists; individuals with decades of frontline experience; leading figures on Far Right and Islamist extremism, experts on social media and campaigners on freedom of speech. (the full list is below).<\/p>\n<p>The group will meet around four times over the coming year to advise and challenge the lead commissioner.<\/p>\n<p>Sara was asked by the previous Home Secretary to lead the <abbr title=\"The Commission for Countering Extremism\">CCE<\/abbr> in January.<\/p>\n<p>In March, the <abbr title=\"The Commission for Countering Extremism\">CCE<\/abbr> was formerly launched as an independent body, with the publication of a charter outlining its independent role.<\/p>\n<p>Sara agreed the following three objectives for her first year: publish a comprehensive study; engage widely, building a network of counter extremists; and establish a robust commission making recommendations about its future structure.<\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s announcements come after Lead Commissioner Sara Khan met the Home Secretary Sajid Javid to update him on the work of the <abbr title=\"The Commission for Countering Extremism\">CCE<\/abbr> shortly after his appointment.<\/p>\n<p>Lead Commissioner Sara Khan said:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>This is an important moment for the commission as we move from our introductory phase to a period of intensive evidence gathering, with the aim of publishing a first-of-its-kind study.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve already met with more than 300 experts and activists. Communities are deeply concerned about the impact of extremism.<\/p>\n<p>Extremism is sowing division and hate, spreading fear and undermining democratic values and human rights.<\/p>\n<p>But it\u2019s also complex and changing \u2013 in 2018 the old stereotypes of Far-Right thugs and Islamist hate preachers don\u2019t always apply.<\/p>\n<p>Whether it\u2019s Far Right, Islamist or other forms of extremism, we need to investigate their changing tactics such as a new-found professionalism; the intellectualising of hate and abusing the power of social media.<\/p>\n<p>There are brave, inspiring counter extremists up and down the country making a difference despite threats and abuse. I believe we have the start of a powerful counter extremism movement.<\/p>\n<p>We need to understand modern day extremism better, so we can help more people to challenge it. That is why this study is so important.<\/p>\n<p>The public debate on extremism is increasingly polarised, leaving some nervous about speaking out. We need to investigate how we improve the debate around extremism, so it\u2019s more constructive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"last-child\">We must be prepared to follow the evidence and to be as radical as necessary when it comes to countering extremism.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3 id=\"evidence-gathering\">Evidence gathering<\/h3>\n<p>In the coming months, the <abbr title=\"The Commission for Countering Extremism\">CCE<\/abbr> will:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>work with research experts to assess current academic evidence and pinpoint the gaps. The <abbr title=\"The Commission for Countering Extremism\">CCE<\/abbr> will use the government definition of extremism as a starting point for this stage. Its work and research, however, will not be limited by this definition<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>work with experts and activists at local and national levels, including government, to prioritise work to address the gaps<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>use this assessment as a springboard to commission bespoke pieces of research on critical issues<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>consult the public, including asking them to submit evidence, and visiting communities affected by extremism<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>the government has already committed to sharing information with the commission &#8211; the <abbr title=\"The Commission for Countering Extremism\">CCE<\/abbr> will also ask regulators, local councils and police forces, universities and other public and private bodies to share information on extremism<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"expert-group\">Expert Group<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>Sir David Anderson KBE QC, former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Jamie Bartlett, author and Director of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media at Demos<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Professor Chetan Bhatt, Director, Centre for the Study of Human Rights, LSE<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Dame Louise Casey DBE CB, led a review into opportunity and integration in some of our most isolated communities<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Sasha Havlicek, Chief Executive of the Institute of Strategic Dialogue<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Dr Azeem Ibrahim, author and Research Professor at the Strategic Studies Institute<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Sunder Katwala, Director, British Future<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Nick Lowles MBE, Chief Executive, Hope Not Hate<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Katie Morris, Head of Europe and Central Asia, Article 19<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Fiyaz Mughal OBE FCMI, founder and director of Faith Matters and founder of Tell Mama<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Pragna Patel, Director, Southall Black Sisters<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Sir Mark Rowley KB QPM, former Assistant Commissioner Metropolitan Police<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Full biographies will be available on the <a rel=\"external\" href=\"https:\/\/extremismcommission.blog.gov.uk\/\">Commission\u2019s blog<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The commission sets out its plans for the coming months<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93792"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=93792"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93792\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=93792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=93792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=93792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}