Written evidence submitted by Nicole Lees (COM0010): Combatting new forms of extremism

Nicole Lees, Lecturer in Security, Intelligence & Investigative Practice, University of Cumbria, has submitted written evidence to a select committee on 'Combatting new forms of extremism', a Parliamentary inquiry by the UK's Home Affairs Committee examining evolving extremism threats, particularly how young people are radicalized online. Introduction: Higher Educational Institutions pride themselves on the ongoing provision of safeguarding. With procedures in place to report concerns, all universities must comply to current regulation, ensuring their staff complete specific training and report concerns. As another aspect of their role, and in such creative spaces, course content is created to address real risk and threat through their undergraduate provision. As part of an ongoing commitment to assessing sector-wide provisions, recent research conducted within a UK Higher Education Institute focused on Prevent, specifically the duty-to-report requirement upon university lecturers. The qualitative approach focused on university lecturers delivering policing and security courses in the North of England. It is from this research the following findings can be used to help address the question posed: What approaches are most effective for identifying and intervening to prevent young people being drawn into extremism?