Understanding extremism in Scotland: public sector practitioner perceptions and views

Footnotes

1 This definition differs in other parts of the UK, where a ‘professional’ describes a frontline public sector worker and a ‘Prevent practitioner’ describes someone in a Prevent-related role.

2 The term ‘Islamist extremism’ is UK Government terminology (Home Office, 2018) that is also adopted in Scotland.

3 This reflects instances an ideology includes a combination of elements from multiple ideologies (mixed), shifts between different ideologies (unstable), or where the individual does not present a coherent ideology yet may still pose a terrorism risk (unclear) (Police Scotland, 2023b).

4 The research with stakeholders was carried out with predominantly senior-level representatives of organisations that have direct involvement in Prevent in Scotland, or significant interest in Prevent or extremism in Scotland more generally.

5 This definition differs in other parts of the UK, where a ‘professional’ describes a frontline public sector worker and a ‘Prevent practitioner’ describes someone in a Prevent-related role.

6 The Prevent duty guidance for Scotland (Home Office 2021b) uses a number of phrases interchangeably to refer to the susceptibility of an individual to being drawn into extremism or terrorism: ‘vulnerability to’ or being ‘at risk of’ ‘being drawn into terrorism’ or ‘being drawn into any form of extremist ideology’ or ‘extremist messaging’ or ‘radicalisation’. This report therefore uses such language to some extent interchangeably, although the focus of this research has been on extremism in particular, and how that relates to the Prevent duty.

7 The Prevent Sub Group is a multi-agency governance group that holds the strategic lead for the co-ordination and support of Scotland’s delivery of Prevent.

8 A lead for each sector which, under the Prevent duty, must pay ‘due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’.

9 The Prevent Multi-Agency Panel is a programme which identifies and supports individuals at risk of being drawn into terrorism.

10 The incel community is comprised of individuals who feel rejected by women – and arguably society more generally – and turn to the Internet to voice their anger, and often, desire for revenge (Regehr, 2022).

11 The Old Firm is the collective name for the Scottish football clubs Celtic and Rangers.

12 Within the incel community, popular men and women are referred to as Chads and Stacys Regehr (2022).

13 Where a vulnerable individual is referred to Prevent and identified as requiring support, this is provided via Prevent Case Management (Police Scotland, 2023b).

14 The Association for Qualitative Research (AQR) defines deliberative research in the following way: “Deliberative research focuses upon participants' viewpoints after they have been presented with the opportunity to 'deliberate' the issue(s) in question (as opposed to traditional qualitative methods that seek to understand current viewpoints). The sessions which usually take the form of an extended workshop, present a range of information and encourage differing points of view and perspectives to be presented, before considered decisions are finally sought. It can be a useful approach for policy consultations as it allows the public to be involved in decision-making that incorporates a wide range of viewpoints and ideas”.

15 ‘Communications testing research’ is a standard research methodology often used by Government bodies, commercial and third sector organisations to help to inform the development of communications materials with specific target audiences. It is used to provide evidence-led recommendations on the best way to achieve communication objectives, including identifying where a different approach may be required for different sub-groups within a broader audience (for example, sub-groups within the broader category of public sector practitioners). Typically, communications testing research is qualitative in nature and involves the use of methodologies such as focus groups, 1-on-1 in-depth interviews and online community research platforms to prompt members of a specific target audience with communication materials (such as text, imagery, audio and video content).