New report explores barriers to reporting people suspected of extremism

Professor Paul Thomas has led an initiative into barriers present when people are faced with reporting someone close they suspect of violent extremism. A new research project led by a University of Huddersfield professor has shown that greater levels of sensitivity and understanding must be shown towards people who are contemplating whether or not to alert the authorities. The project suggests that when people do decide to share information about a friend or family member involved in planning violent extremism, they prefer to do so face-to-face with a local police officer, suggesting training all police personnel to respond appropriately would be beneficial to effective reporting. The project, funded by the Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats (CREST), has been launched at an event at the University of Huddersfield. By addressing what is termed ‘intimates’ reporting’, the research fills a critical gap in international attempts to counter violent extremism. The first people to suspect or know about someone becoming involved in planning acts of terrorism, including involvement in overseas conflicts, will often be those closest to them. Professor Thomas and his colleagues, in collaboration with Professor Michele Grossman of Australia’s Deakin University, have carried a serious of in-depth interviews where interviewees are taken through a series of scenarios based on real-life cases. They were asked what their feelings would be, what dilemmas they would face and what action they would take if they had information about a relative or friend involved in terrorism. The researchers also interviewed professional practitioners, including counter terrorism police officers, Prevent co-ordinators based in local authorities and key workers from Muslim community organisations. One key conclusion is that reporting to the police is such a grave step that most community respondents would only do after a staged process. First, they would attempt to dissuade the intimate, and take counsel and guidance from family members, friends and trusted community leaders. Some younger respondents would also share concerns with lecturers or teachers. If the concerns needed escalating, respondents said they would report to local police, not counter terrorism specialists. They also said they wish to do so in person, so they could assess how seriously their report was being taken. Telephone hotlines were not seen by respondents as appropriate for non-emergency concerns. The project report makes a sequence of recommendations, such as the localisation and personalising of the reporting process and the development of support mechanisms for people who make reports. Professor Thomas said: “It almost like safeguarding, so that people can share concerns and that there will be a response that helps the people they are concerned about, rather than an immediate criminal investigation, particularly if it is further down the line that a terrorist act is going to happen. “It is important there is a response that’s more about welfare, safeguarding and counselling for both the person and the people doing the reporting.”