A government plan to tackle extremism in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham may only have the effect of labelling the local Muslim community as ‘suspects.’

This is the warning from the Hammersmith and Fulham Refugee Forum. Blogging on the organisation’s website, spokesperson Phil Cooper said a number of initiatives had been outlined by Home Secretary Theresa May as part of the government’s ‘Prevent’ strategy. These included identifying individuals at risk of radicalisation in schools and universities, blocking access to extremist websites in libraries, schools and community centres and identifying vulnerable children who might be susceptible to extremist views. Additional government money would be made available to the local council for this and other initiatives.

The blog goes on to quote a new report from the Human Rights Commission which has found that ‘counter-terrorism’ measures have created a perception that Muslims are a ‘suspect community’ being targeted purely as a result of their religion, rather than as a result of any actual evidence or suspicion.

At a time when community programmes and support for voluntary groups was being slashed the money directed towards ‘counter-terrorism’ might be more wisely spent.

Says Mr Cooper: “In tackling radicalisation the authorities, especially the police, must work closely with the organisations that represent the local Muslim and other ethnic minority communities for it is these organisations that, day to day, know the reality of life for those they support.

“They understand that while the authorities are so heavily focused on extremism and terror threats - real or not-so-real - refugee and BME communities are much more concerned with day-to-day problems such as unemployment, housing, drug use and gangs involvement among young people, and racist abuse.”

The blog is accessible at www.hfrf.org.uk

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Further information contact: Emad Al-Hamadani, Co-ordinator, on: 020 7386 6090 or Phil Cooper, Press Officer, on: 07889 949173