THE pandemic is having a “considerable impact” on the risk to vulnerable people of extremist groups.

A new report into the Prevent strategy in Bradford says long periods of isolation, more time spent online and a lack of interaction with teachers and other services is increasing the chances that vulnerable people in the District might be targeted by extremist groups.

Each year Bradford Council’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee is given an update on the Prevent scheme - a national programme to reduce the risk of people being radicalised by extremist groups - in the Bradford District.

The latest report, which will be discussed at a meeting on Thursday, reveals how lockdown has led to extremist groups from different spectrums adapting to radicalise people online.

The highest risk group for radicalisation - by groups including Islamic terrorism and Far Right terrorism, is under 18s.

The report says: “All extremist groups have largely moved all their activity online due to Covid.

“Online schooling and lockdown has meant an increase in online activity for all age groups, but particularly those 18 and under.”

What is being done to tackle extremism in Bradford?

It says a high proportion of people referred to the programme have been young people with mental health problems or young people on the Autistic spectrum.

The report says: “The continually evolving online sphere is the ideal environment to take advantage of people, particularly young people, who are working online more and more due to home schooling. Lockdown has meant that extremist groups have adapted to ensure that their materials and groups have moved to the virtual space and this has increased their risk.

“Bradford Prevent has tailored the Prevent programme to meet the ever growing risk from online extremism across all ideologies. Projects, training and support are very mindful of this ever developing risk, especially during the Covid pandemic.”

The report also reveals that training has been provided for places of worship and even front line Council staff on how deal with visits from extremist groups.

In 2014 members of a far right group entered a number of mosques in Bradford to hand out bibles to worshippers.

And last year a member of the same group visited Council offices to confront staff about grooming gangs.

The report going to the meeting on Thursday says: “Guidance has been provided for places of worship to support them in minimising safeguarding risks and keeping congregations safe.

“This includes advice on what to do if contacted by a far right group, how to respond to hate crime and where to access community safety support.

“Training and guidance was also provided for local authority reception staff following a visit to local authority buildings.

“Following this, reception staff were educated about the group and similar groups and given advice about what to do in the event of a future visit.

“This was welcomed by the staff.”

The committee will also hear about the numerous anti-radicalisation projects being funded in the District including Mothers Against Radicalisation - a project to give mothers the training to spot signs their children might be radicalised.