10:50am Friday 12th December 2008
By Anika Bourley
Bradford councillors have hit out at claims that local authorities are not doing enough to tackle violent extremism.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said councils must come out of their comfort zone and tackle extremism in any way needed.
She said a point had been reached where work needed to be stepped up, hardened, and the challenges better understood.
She said: “Building community cohesion is not the cure-all in protecting vulnerable young people or wider society from the threat of violent extremism.
“That means working with the whole community and a focus on shared values alongside activity targeted specifically at individuals who are most at risk.
“That requires tough decisions, difficult debates, moving into uncomfortable and new territory and going beyond the usual people, usual ways of doing things and usual places of doing them.
“But that is the challenge and one that we have already seen many people rise to.”
Bradford Council leader Kris Hopkins hit out at any implication not enough was being done. He said the leadership of the Council had engaged with all other political parties on the issue and regularly challenges local residents and the Government to work with them to promote community cohesion.
He said: “It is the responsibility not just of local authorities but also of Government to tackle extremism. Equally, it is our shared task to promote community cohesion.
“However, both issues are very obviously coupled together and sometimes it appears that Ministers do not fully understand this reality. Alternatively, one might conclude that chasing headlines is of greater importance.”
Labour group leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said: “It is not limited to one community – we need to tap into the undercurrent. The vast majority of people in the district hold decent values.”
Councillor David Ward, deputy leader of the Liberal Democratics, criticised Miss Blears saying she had a “damn cheek”. He said: “Authorities have been asked to pick up the pieces on extremism that has come from the Iraq war. To say we are doing nothing is wrong.”
As part of the latest drive to tackle extremism, local intelligence profiles detailing the activities of extremists in every area will be drawn up to identify radical preachers and groups promoting hate. New guidance from the Association of Chief Police Officers will also enable senior officers to share “sensitive information” with council chief executives.
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