Dozens in East Lancs reported to anti-terror hotline (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Dozens in East Lancs reported to anti-terror hotline
8:40am Tuesday 1st June 2010 in News
ON ALERT: Armed anti-terrorist police at the ready after an alarm was called
DOZENS of people have been reported to police as part of a new scheme to root out potential terrorists in East Lancashire.
The Channel Project aims to prevent 'vulnerable people' becoming radicalised.
It encourages citizens to report any 'worrying behaviour' - such as a schoolboy drawing pictures of bombs or bus passengers spouting extremist views - to a special hotline.
Police then complete background checks on individuals before a panel meets to decide if any action needs to be taken.
Interventions can range from a simple chat to a complex mentoring and counselling process.
Critics said the Channel Project was a step too far in terms of civil liberties. They said it could cause fear in communities.
But police said it was 'not about spying, but identifying vulnerable people and helping them'.
Blackburn and Burnley are two of 28 national pilot schemes launched last November after concerns that many neighbours in Leeds had suspicions about the 7/7 London bombers but did not report anything to police.
Dozens of East Lancashire people, the majority aged between 15 and 24, have been reported to police for having either extremist Islamic views, far-right leanings and or being IRA sympathisers.
The information has not prompted any criminal investigations.
So far the scheme has relied on tip-offs from people in public sector jobs, such as teachers, social workers and bin men, or workers who come into contact with the public a lot, such as bus drivers.
But now police are urging the wider community to report their concerns to the hotline.
Examples of the types of behaviour that could be reported include:
• A school pupil who is obsessed with drawing bombs and guns
• A bus passenger expressing racist views
• New neighbours behaving oddly, such as keeping curtains shut all day
• A child who begins using extremist websites
• A vulnerable loner who suddenly gets a large group of new friends.
Inspector Paul Goodall, the Prevent and Channel co-ordinator for East Lancashire, said the project aimed to target those with 'extremist views’.
He said: “We are looking at people who would not normally come onto our radar.
“In their behaviour they may not actually be doing anything wrong, but if we have concerns about how they could develop, it is our role to engage with that person.
“The Channel Project is all about supporting vulnerable individuals.
“We have run some events explaining where we are coming from and understanding is growing.
“This is a massive change for us because these people are not criminals.
“We hope and expect that the numbers of referrals will increase.”
Jack Straw, Blackburn MP, said a fine balance needed to be found to protect the public and not infringe on people’s privacy.
Mr Straw, the former Justice Minister, said: “The horror of terrorism is that the victims are chosen at random and as someone who was involved in an IRA attack in the 1970s I know that it is one of those areas that the police cannot ignore.
“I am reassured that this project is in the hands of Lancashire police, who have a fantastic record in working with the community.”
Coun Salim Mulla, chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said it was a 'step too far'.
He said: "People in the community already know what their responsibilities are and people will report to the police if they see anything suspicious.
“I think this could just create fear among the community.”
Civil liberty group JUST said it had major concerns.
A spokesman said: “It has led to the disproportionate criminalisation of BME and particularly Muslim communities and it locates the burden for fighting terrorism on the Muslim community, despite the fact that the majority are peace-loving citizens of the UK."
Coun Nadeem Ahmed, Pendle's deputy mayor, said there needed to be more eduction on the issue.
The 31-year-old solicitor backed the project: "Personally I feel that we all need to work together on this issue to engage with anyone who is a risk.
"This scheme will help provide more information to people who have those concerns."
Partners in the Channel scheme locally are the Prince's Trust, Samaritans, councils and football teams and the youth inclusion support panel.
For more information or to report anyone to the Channel team call 01254 353666 or the anti-terrorism hotline on 0800 789 321.
Comments(17)
slammer
says...
10:32am Tue 1 Jun 10
Watch, report, be aware!
In your united kingdom of boo the British surveillance state has again upped the Orwellian ante.
Report all suspicious behavior. Two men on the top of a bus talking in funny, a kid draws a picture of a spitfire or a lancaster bomber. A woman loves to walk nude in her flat, she keeps the curtains closed.
Constantly being watched and spied on is intimidating, whether you are doing anything wrong or not. More and more we are watched, everywhere. In london underground, if you stand near the trackway, an officious busybody in the kiosk above will admonish you over the PA system to stand back. Cameras. You begin half-consciously changing your behavior to the desires of the unknown chaperones.
Presumably, overt dictatorships such as China will simply impose whatever surveillance they wish. Can the galloping growth of surveillance in the United Kingdom be controlled? I think not (though I'd love to be wrong), for several reasons.
First, there is no way to object. We do not really have a democracy. A impotent legislative branch and an all-powerful and unaccountable judiciary, the public has little recourse but to do as it is told. The government will just do what it wants.
Second, fear is an effective way to get people to give up independence, privacy, and freedom. It is being used, and it is working. Tell people that they are in danger, that they are being attacked or about to be attacked or might be attacked. Tell them that the government needs to watch every detail of their lives to protect them.
21st century England frightens easily. We are afraid of second-hand smoke, terrorists, plastic guns, and little boys who point their fingers and say "bang." This is not the way society should be It will accept much in the name of security. Once people get used to the loss of rights, it will be impossible to get them back.
Welcome to Sowiet Britain
AkitaRedRose
says...
10:45am Tue 1 Jun 10
The Red One
says...
11:49am Tue 1 Jun 10
Going back to Terrorism in the North West, just watch you backs from the
UN-Known, they are not all Muslims.
retired one
says...
11:49am Tue 1 Jun 10
Mike Costa
says...
12:34pm Tue 1 Jun 10
The Red One - What exactly is your point? Yes the Israelis are a despicable war like nation, but is there any reason for us to be on the look out for a Jewish terrorist plot in the UK? Of course not. The threat is from the Muslims, like it or not. Recent history has proved that.
district01
says...
12:46pm Tue 1 Jun 10
We’d stand a much better chance of living together if those ‘unworldly’ false beliefs from the dark ages were realised to be just that - Primitive beliefs from the dark ages that can only be described as make-believe. Can anyone prove there is a God other than a belief that we’re so important in ourselves that we’re born again after death. Too simplistic to be true!
A great pity that religion isn’t a belief in ourselves rather than a belief in a fictitious God!
Mike
says...
12:47pm Tue 1 Jun 10
lancastrian lass
says...
1:39pm Tue 1 Jun 10
NICEONESUNSHINE
says...
2:22pm Tue 1 Jun 10
slammer wrote:This is the best opinion that I've read on these boards for years.
Ahh! Gestapo and Stasi you are no longer with us but your methods are not forgotten. Watch, report, be aware! In your united kingdom of boo the British surveillance state has again upped the Orwellian ante. Report all suspicious behavior. Two men on the top of a bus talking in funny, a kid draws a picture of a spitfire or a lancaster bomber. A woman loves to walk nude in her flat, she keeps the curtains closed. Constantly being watched and spied on is intimidating, whether you are doing anything wrong or not. More and more we are watched, everywhere. In london underground, if you stand near the trackway, an officious busybody in the kiosk above will admonish you over the PA system to stand back. Cameras. You begin half-consciously changing your behavior to the desires of the unknown chaperones. Presumably, overt dictatorships such as China will simply impose whatever surveillance they wish. Can the galloping growth of surveillance in the United Kingdom be controlled? I think not (though I'd love to be wrong), for several reasons. First, there is no way to object. We do not really have a democracy. A impotent legislative branch and an all-powerful and unaccountable judiciary, the public has little recourse but to do as it is told. The government will just do what it wants. Second, fear is an effective way to get people to give up independence, privacy, and freedom. It is being used, and it is working. Tell people that they are in danger, that they are being attacked or about to be attacked or might be attacked. Tell them that the government needs to watch every detail of their lives to protect them. 21st century England frightens easily. We are afraid of second-hand smoke, terrorists, plastic guns, and little boys who point their fingers and say "bang." This is not the way society should be It will accept much in the name of security. Once people get used to the loss of rights, it will be impossible to get them back. Welcome to Sowiet Britain
.
Take note people....Big brother is here and YOU are sanctioning it by NOT protesting against "Stasi" like schemes such as this.........
floydbrfc
says...
3:11pm Tue 1 Jun 10
10:32am Tue 1 Jun 10
Ahh! Gestapo and Stasi you are no longer with us but your methods are not forgotten.
Watch, report, be aware!
In your united kingdom of boo the British surveillance state has again upped the Orwellian ante.
Report all suspicious behavior. Two men on the top of a bus talking in funny, a kid draws a picture of a spitfire or a lancaster bomber. A woman loves to walk nude in her flat, she keeps the curtains closed.
Constantly being watched and spied on is intimidating, whether you are doing anything wrong or not. More and more we are watched, everywhere. In london underground, if you stand near the trackway, an officious busybody in the kiosk above will admonish you over the PA system to stand back. Cameras. You begin half-consciously changing your behavior to the desires of the unknown chaperones.
Presumably, overt dictatorships such as China will simply impose whatever surveillance they wish. Can the galloping growth of surveillance in the United Kingdom be controlled? I think not (though I'd love to be wrong), for several reasons.
First, there is no way to object. We do not really have a democracy. A impotent legislative branch and an all-powerful and unaccountable judiciary, the public has little recourse but to do as it is told. The government will just do what it wants.
Second, fear is an effective way to get people to give up independence, privacy, and freedom. It is being used, and it is working. Tell people that they are in danger, that they are being attacked or about to be attacked or might be attacked. Tell them that the government needs to watch every detail of their lives to protect them.
21st century England frightens easily. We are afraid of second-hand smoke, terrorists, plastic guns, and little boys who point their fingers and say "bang." This is not the way society should be It will accept much in the name of security. Once people get used to the loss of rights, it will be impossible to get them back.
Welcome to Sowiet Britain And british citizens boarding tube trains with rucsacs packed with explosives and nails i think you missed that one ,personally this scenario scares me a little bit more than a camera at the end of my street
Chris P Bacon
says...
6:04pm Tue 1 Jun 10
Who are they giving credence to? People with genuine concerns or will these primarily be racists (on all sides) who want to dob in their perceived enemy?
Can you imagine low-life nerks like RAyzer and Akon off here believing they have some power like that? 'Denunciation' they'll be thinking. 'I'll denounce that Muslim I don't like and make sommat up about him.'
It's laughable in the extreme, this is and will doubtless lead to some real Keystone Kops behaviour and cringe-making legislation that will make this country a laughing stock.
retired one
says...
6:12pm Tue 1 Jun 10
district01 wrote:I agree with every word.
What a shame people still believe in out of date 'God' beliefs. Whatever that religion may be? We’d stand a much better chance of living together if those ‘unworldly’ false beliefs from the dark ages were realised to be just that - Primitive beliefs from the dark ages that can only be described as make-believe. Can anyone prove there is a God other than a belief that we’re so important in ourselves that we’re born again after death. Too simplistic to be true! A great pity that religion isn’t a belief in ourselves rather than a belief in a fictitious God!
Lifeinthemix
says...
6:24pm Tue 1 Jun 10
.
It creates total distrust amongst the people and then child's play for the police state to begin the removal of people in full view of everyone without a single voice being raised.
.
then everyone begins to become very afraid and further cower in the corner in the hope if they say nothing they will present the idea they are on side, of course it begins with one group, ie Muslims, and very soon shifts to all those who the state see as a potential threat, and by the way the threat in question is intelligence.
.
So if you know how this nations system works, you are a threat, if you missed a payment in 1403 AD, then your a threat....
.
get the picture?
watchingyou
says...
10:54pm Tue 1 Jun 10
slammer
says...
3:53pm Wed 2 Jun 10
watchingyou wrote:Well Watchingyou, I am not throwing too many stones around here and do not imagine even for a moment that there is no Sterling in Swiss bank accounts, vaults in Leichtenstein or tucked away in Jersey and the Isle of Man.
slammer Berneck Switzerland, Who does the WORLD always call on to fight against oppression in times of trial and tribulation ? Us here and the Yanks! The countries around you had their Quizlings and such people, all that you people are fit for is Laundering BENT MONEY ( Including Nazi Stuff ) Your bank coffers are FULL of frozen Bank Accounts , Frozen because either the Gangsters or Dead Nazis or other Despots are not around to claim the money. THOSE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES !
Money that you and I will never see.
But that beside, the topic was about surveillance and is it going too far? I for one think it is, technology allows us humans to do more and more at the same time society clamps down and takes away our freedoms, freedoms paid for in blood and on the nail.
However technology has it's limitations, a cameras as a tool is on it's own not very effective, in most cases the person behind the screen can only watch and not intervene, to compensate for the limitations there will be more and more surveillance equipment installed, this will go on until a blanket observation capability has been achieved, this is the logical consequence.
Once this road has been taken there will be no turning back, "big brother" will be able to watch you day and night.
But only in the interest of safety and the greater good of course.
This is not a tin-foil hat moment but the wish of a society that on it's way to become a semi-police state.
Now it is suggested to go a step even further and set a denouncement system in motion, sorry but with all respect too many have died for our right of freedom for us to allow it to be whittled away like this.
Just when did common sense die
As to Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling's all around me?
Remember Lord Halifax, Oswald Mosley and King Ed the VIII just to name a few.
watchingyou
says...
8:39pm Wed 2 Jun 10
Mo Lestor says...
9:53am Tue 1 Jun 10
.
1, Of course it will focus on BME and Muslim communities because this is where the highest level of threat is from.
.
2, The burden for fighting this is placed on the Muslim/BME community because of a lack of integration they do not associate with anyone else.
.
I agree that most folk just want to 'get on' and Coun Mulla should support any initiative that assists with this.
Given that some of these people will be introduced or meet at Mosques which are places that the Police and non Muslims do not have access.
He really should be more supportive!