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| Child radicalisation: NSPCC to advise concerned parents | Child radicalisation: NSPCC to advise concerned parents |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A charity has trained its counsellors to help parents who fear their children are being radicalised. | A charity has trained its counsellors to help parents who fear their children are being radicalised. |
| The NSPCC said its existing support line could now advise parents worried about extremists grooming a child. | The NSPCC said its existing support line could now advise parents worried about extremists grooming a child. |
| It said counsellors had been trained to spot warning signs such as children isolating themselves or "talking as if from a scripted speech". | |
| Recent terror attacks "highlighted the growing problem of individuals being influenced by extremism", it added. | Recent terror attacks "highlighted the growing problem of individuals being influenced by extremism", it added. |
| The charity said it had already started getting calls from people worried about the problem. | The charity said it had already started getting calls from people worried about the problem. |
| One caller said: "I'm concerned that someone is trying to force a young boy into having extreme beliefs. He has started acting differently recently and has become more withdrawn." | One caller said: "I'm concerned that someone is trying to force a young boy into having extreme beliefs. He has started acting differently recently and has become more withdrawn." |
| 'Inappropriate questions' | 'Inappropriate questions' |
| The training for NSPCC counsellors explained how extremist recruiters "befriend vulnerable targets, feed them ideologies and - in the worst-case scenario - persuade them to commit terrorist attacks". | The training for NSPCC counsellors explained how extremist recruiters "befriend vulnerable targets, feed them ideologies and - in the worst-case scenario - persuade them to commit terrorist attacks". |
| The charity said potential targets often had low self-esteem, were members of gangs, or were victims of bullying or discrimination. | The charity said potential targets often had low self-esteem, were members of gangs, or were victims of bullying or discrimination. |
| Radicals tell them they can be "part of something special, and brainwash them into cutting themselves off from their friends and family", it added. | Radicals tell them they can be "part of something special, and brainwash them into cutting themselves off from their friends and family", it added. |
| Signs which may "hint at a child being radicalised" include increased anger, becoming disrespectful and asking "inappropriate questions", the charity said. | Signs which may "hint at a child being radicalised" include increased anger, becoming disrespectful and asking "inappropriate questions", the charity said. |
| Case study | Case study |
| "I'm worried about a child I know," one caller told counsellors. | "I'm worried about a child I know," one caller told counsellors. |
| "I fear that they may start holding extremist beliefs because I've heard her saying some worrying things. | "I fear that they may start holding extremist beliefs because I've heard her saying some worrying things. |
| "She's also showing changes in behaviour and appears to be more aggressive towards her parents. | "She's also showing changes in behaviour and appears to be more aggressive towards her parents. |
| "I'm not sure how to approach this as I know the family well... I don't think staying silent is an option in the current climate." | "I'm not sure how to approach this as I know the family well... I don't think staying silent is an option in the current climate." |
| NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said: "The fact that a young person might hold extreme or radical views is not a safeguarding issue in itself. | NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said: "The fact that a young person might hold extreme or radical views is not a safeguarding issue in itself. |
| "But when young people are groomed for extremist purposes and encouraged to commit acts that could hurt themselves or others, then it becomes abuse. | "But when young people are groomed for extremist purposes and encouraged to commit acts that could hurt themselves or others, then it becomes abuse. |
| "That's why we've trained our counsellors to cope with this fresh danger to young people." | "That's why we've trained our counsellors to cope with this fresh danger to young people." |
| The charity's counsellors can also advise parents on how to talk to children who are anxious about terrorism or upset by recent attacks, such as those in France and Germany. | The charity's counsellors can also advise parents on how to talk to children who are anxious about terrorism or upset by recent attacks, such as those in France and Germany. |