- 11 hours ago
Talking to people involved in extremism can be hard, but it doesn't have to be.
To create change we have to listen, find out about the person, their interests, family and their concerns.
If someone is involved, ask why they became involved, and what do they hope to achieve?
Providing some examples, we have created a couple of example videos, which may help frontline staff engage with people.
If you have and concerns, please contact Prevent or ACT Early for family support, 24 hours a day. Search for them online.
To create change we have to listen, find out about the person, their interests, family and their concerns.
If someone is involved, ask why they became involved, and what do they hope to achieve?
Providing some examples, we have created a couple of example videos, which may help frontline staff engage with people.
If you have and concerns, please contact Prevent or ACT Early for family support, 24 hours a day. Search for them online.
Category
📚
LearningTranscript
00:04Hi, Liam. Nice to meet you.
00:06Hi.
00:07My name is Dave.
00:08I have been asked to come and see you and have a chat with you.
00:11I hope that is okay.
00:13Do you know anything about why I am here and the mentoring I offer, or should I explain it?
00:19It would be great if you could go through it, please.
00:21No problem.
00:23Well, everything today is completely confidential.
00:26I'm here to listen and see if I can support you in any way.
00:30If you want to stop the conversation at any point, you can.
00:34So, would you like me to stay and you can tell me about yourself?
00:38Yes, I think it would be helpful.
00:40Perfect.
00:42To start, would you like me to tell you a little about myself,
00:46or would you prefer to just get straight into why I am here today?
00:49Well, I imagine the reason you are here today is because of my online activities and the mates I have.
00:54Yes, that's right, Liam.
00:56People are worried about you and want to make sure you are safe.
01:00Where did you meet these mates you are now talking to?
01:03I met them online playing video games a few months ago.
01:06What made you decide to talk to them?
01:09Since all my mates went to a different high school, I haven't really had a chance to play with anyone.
01:13One day, I was just chilling, and these guys started talking about boxing.
01:18I got involved in the conversation, and things just went from there.
01:21So, why are people concerned about your online friends if they are just into boxing?
01:26Well, they are also against Islam and immigration.
01:29How do you feel about that sort of thing?
01:31Well, at first I couldn't care less.
01:33Politics has always bored me.
01:35However, after listening to them, and seeing all the posts in the group chat, I kind of agree with what
01:41they are saying.
01:42But I do get confused.
01:44This group chat, what platform or app is it?
01:48Is it WhatsApp, Snapchat or something else?
01:50No, mate.
01:51That mainstream stuff is all controlled by the government.
01:54We use good apps which are properly encrypted.
01:57Some of the apps we have talked about are a bit concerning.
02:01I have heard on some, that you don't even need an email or a phone number or anything to sign
02:06up.
02:06All you do is create a username and you are good to go.
02:10I also understand that you can't actually find some of these groups.
02:15You have to be invited to join them with a link or a QR code.
02:18Is that right?
02:19Yeah, that's spot on.
02:21That's why we love it.
02:22It's properly secure.
02:23And the people in the groups you know have been interviewed, vetted, and so we trust each other.
02:28That's really interesting.
02:30Doesn't all that security worry you?
02:32It's a lot.
02:33And this is why people are worried.
02:35How did your mum and dad react when they found out about these online friends?
02:40Well, they didn't know for ages.
02:41We have a secret code to get the group to stop talking when someone walks in.
02:45Secret code?
02:47Could you explain that a bit more for me?
02:49In the conversation, if your mum walks in, you would say,
02:52M-O-S.
02:53What does that mean?
02:55MOZ stands for mum over shoulder.
02:57Wow.
02:58That is really smart, but also really worrying.
03:01Yeah, it goes to show we aren't all idiots, like what the media tries to say about us.
03:05That is very true.
03:07I speak to lots of people, and everyone is very switched on.
03:11So do you still play a lot of games with your far-right friends?
03:14Or are you just involved in their group chats now?
03:17I still game with them all the time.
03:18There are actually a few bigger groups that do gaming tournaments,
03:21and they always leave-stream the tournaments too.
03:24We always try and compete in those, to show off our skills.
03:28What do you think of the bigger groups?
03:30They are okay, but I prefer to just stay with the smaller group of individuals I met while gaming.
03:35I know and trust them.
03:37Why is that?
03:38Well, I just mainly like the gaming stuff.
03:40I can't be bothered with all the leafleting and marches that the big group promotes and does.
03:45They are just too busy, and I don't really like big crowds.
03:48I get uncomfortable.
03:49That is completely understandable.
03:52Have you ever been on an activity?
03:54I have been to a few activities, but you never know what they will be like.
03:58Sometimes people say there is going to be a lot of people there,
04:01and only a few people turn up, so that can be dangerous,
04:04as you might get into an argument with people who don't like our views.
04:07Other times there can be a lot of people there, but then things can become violent,
04:11and some people even attack the police.
04:13I don't like that.
04:15That sounds scary, from both points of view.
04:18The police are ordinary people, doing a job, to stop people getting hurt.
04:23Often you don't see that when you are involved.
04:26You're right, the far right tells you they are the enemy.
04:28But I can see what you are saying.
04:30That makes sense now.
04:32Often they are just there trying to stop trouble.
04:35Have you ever been involved with any of the bigger online campaigns?
04:38One group has asked me if I will make them some videos and memes.
04:42They actually use a popular meme called Pepe the Frog a lot.
04:45They asked me if I could do some anti-small boats memes.
04:48Using Pepe, but I said I was busy.
04:50You did the right thing by not doing it.
04:53What made you say no?
04:55Well me, my old mates, used to always laugh at Pepe memes.
04:58Like the legit ones.
04:59It just doesn't feel right turning Pepe racist.
05:02So did your old mates not have the same views as your new far right ones?
05:05No, they would say things that aren't politically correct, but they weren't racist.
05:10I can see now what people are worried about you.
05:13They care and don't want you to get into trouble or put yourself in danger.
05:17By being in touch with people with extremist views, you are leaving a door open and just
05:22like they wanted you to create some memes, they will try to use you.
05:25I have seen this with others.
05:27People join the group, people are really friendly, but then they get asked to do things, and
05:32normally they do.
05:33I think this is to impress people, but then they go all quiet as they have moved to a
05:38more secretive group, and only those in it know what is going on.
05:41Does that worry you?
05:42Yes, that's why I have always said, I am busy.
05:45I have chatted with others who have gone into other groups, and they have said things change.
05:50The group promotes extremism, and racism, and they get you to do things.
05:55I don't want to do that.
05:57That's a wise move.
05:59The reason I do this job is because I used to be involved myself, so I understand how people
06:05become involved, do things, get used, and then what it is like when something goes wrong,
06:11and when you want support, everyone is gone.
06:14Wow, I didn't know that.
06:16So you understand, that's brilliant, I feel a lot more at ease now.
06:20Do you still game?
06:22Not as much as I used to.
06:23I think the things you and others have said have made me think, and now I can see the
06:28dangers.
06:28I really appreciate people listening to me, hearing what I have to say, but then offering
06:33me alternatives, which makes sense and this has really helped me.
06:37Everyone who is helping you is doing it, because they want you to be safe.
06:41Being active online in a group with people who promote extremism is really dangerous, and
06:47by being online with them, you are putting yourself in danger.
06:51I can see that now.
06:52Can you help me get out of this?
06:54Yes, we can.
06:56What I will do is talk to some people about the fact that you want to come away from extremist
07:01influence and get you the support you need.
07:03That's amazing.
07:04Thank you so much.
07:05That's no problem.
07:07That's what I am here for.
07:08Thank you so much.