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Police to check schools for militant Islamic pupils
Uniformed police officers will be sent into every secondary school in Leeds in an attempt to identify pupils in danger of becoming Islamic extremists and persuade them back on to a path of normality.
The move to introduce 24 officers into schools was hailed yesterday as the most extensive scheme of its kind in the country. West Yorkshire Police are also sponsoring a play which will go into schools, depicting an argument between two families, one from the far Right and one of Islamic extremists.
Separately, council officials will bring together a wide range of Muslims from the city to form an advisory group, able to offer criticism of new policies designed to engage those in danger of falling into hands of radicals.
They form components of the city's new strategy to tackle violent extremism, which is due to go under consultation with Muslim communities next month.
Leeds was chosen as one of the first areas in the UK to develop a strategy, receiving 589,000 of Government funding, having been home to three of the terrorists who attacked London on July 7, 2005. Intelligence reports suggest Leeds remains a high-risk area.
Chief Supt Mark Milsom, divisional commander for the city centre and Holbeck areas of Leeds, said: "It is important to get into the schools and engage with young people.
"Angry young people have grievances, they have strong points of view that are formed from adults around them but which aren't yet fully developed.
"If those issues can be picked up at a young age they can be resolved in a positive way.
"If we don't work with them it could see them being led down the wrong path."
Coun Les Carter, executive member for neighbourhoods, said: "It's not our job to isolate potential terrorists – that's for MI5 to do – but it is our job to talk to vulnerable children and help them see other options."
Last month public outcry forced Calderdale Council to withdraw a project instructing pupils to put themselves inside the mind of suicide bombers.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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