What should I do if I am worried?
There are many options to explore if you are concerned about a loved one, including from having an informal conversation to intervention from the authorities. Firstly, it is best to try to open up dialogue, not being judgmental but trying to find out what is behind the worrying behaviour. Young people often want to explore issues, for example talking about politics or religion – this is a positive thing. Former extremists often tell us that parents should try to keep the lines of talking open, try to listen, and tackle the tricky questions together. The idea is to help young people learn and grow, while building resilience to negative ideas and arguments. Talk to your child’s teachers, youth workers, community organisations and other parents – there are always people to get advice and support from.
For those worried about a relative in prison who seems at risk of being radicalised, any dialogue may clearly be less possible. The main advice is similar to above – to keep lines of communication open, and for those in prison to know the family is there for them. There is the choice of contacting the prison pastoral team to see if they could talk to your relative. Religious conversion is common in prisons, but this is not the same as support for terrorism. There are a number of organisations that work with families affected by having family members in prison. You can contact the Prisoners Families Helpline on 0808 808 2003. You can speak to St Giles Trust who work with ex-offenders and their families on 0808 801 0600.