European Institute of Social Services, Universität Zürich, 2010. This project seeks to use the learning from two different social environments proven to generate violent radicalisation, right-wing political extremism and religious fundamentalism.
The first task is to evaluate the comparative impact data gathered from Violence Prevention Network’s comparative work with right-wing violent young prisoners and those from Muslim migrant backgrounds in Germany, looking at the messages that will improve rehabilitation and reintegration into the community. The second task is to develop at least one community-based project. In the UK, this would support and monitor a "demonstration project"/ partnership between London Probation & Islamic projects engaged in de-radicalising people caught up in criminality and involved or susceptible to becoming recruits to Islamist organisations in the UK. This would be contrasted to work with known right wing extremists.
Evaluation from credible academics at the European Institute of Social Services (EISS) at Kent University as well as the University of Zurich, Switzerland, will draw together lessons from both working with this group in custody and in the community to reduce the likelihood of violence & antisocial behaviour on release or under community supervision.
In the UK there are gradually emerging small numbers of ex-prisoners who have served sentences for involvement in violent radicalism. Currently these are predominantly dealt with by Islamic communities in the UK. There is a need for Criminal Justice Agencies to know how to contain and supervise the risks they pose and find approaches that will aid rehabilitation. From work in Reducing Hate Crime in Europe (RHCE) 1&2, the need to work to with suitable Islamic organisations has been identified. This project would test the model identified in RHCE2 & through lessons, test its transferability for use in other EU countries as a model of good practice. The work in Germany based in prison environments would contribute models of good practice, giving a potential of developing a true European joined-up approach between containment in custody and in the community
This 25 month project commissions research in partner countries including the UK. It established a transnational project management board that will have the ability to continue to influence practice beyond the life of the project by embedding its learning and seeking influential representatives for the project board in each country. The project will monitor and compare results of Violence Prevention Network (VPN) in German Prisons looking for differences and similarities of young offenders sentenced for violence from either Muslim or an extreme right wing background to build models that will assist in engaging with those at risk of becoming violent radicals. In the UK a pilot project will be agreed between London Probation, Stockwell Green Community Service and London College of BMIT, to support more effective supervision of Muslim radicals released on prison license or sentenced to community based punishment. Kent University will evaluate the range, potential impact of projects and their transferability to other EU cities and states. Research will help to identify barriers to success and a "tool kit" of effective methods of intervention.
The impact of the projects is evaluated and conferenced to ensure dissemination and maximum exposure of the findings. The Board arranges an international working conference for professionals, policy makers, senior officers and practitioners on results on the most promising approaches. The centres organise up to 3 seminars in participating countries on how to tailor the best approaches to individual states.
The project’s targets are:
- Conduct research and identify best practice;
- Compare right wing violent radicals and those from Muslim backgrounds engaged by the projects;
- Develop community-based and custody-adapted versions, where possible, of intervention "tool kits";
- Conference best practice and assess transferability across a range of European prisons and Probation/Law enforcement systems;
- Agree and develop best practice approaches;
- Develop benchmark for provision, based on the project's activities;
- Deliver a resume of what has been learned to encourage the use of this approach in Partner countries' CJS systems; and
- Develop and consider applicability of "tool kit" for use in other hate crimes, as well as anti-social behaviour.
