Under government plans, extreme misogyny will reportedly be treated as a terrorist act for the first time.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has ordered a review of the counter-terrorism strategy to address violence against women and girls, identify gaps in current laws and examine emerging ideologies, according to the Sunday Telegraph.
The proposals would make it a legal requirement for teachers to report pupils suspected of extreme misogyny to the UK government’s anti-terrorism programme, Prevent.
Mr Cooper told The Telegraph: “For too long, governments have failed to tackle the rise of extremism both online and on our streets, leading to growing numbers of young people being radicalised online. Hate incitement of all kinds is damaging and fraying the very fabric of our communities and democracy.”
The Labour MP added: “The fight against extremism has been badly hollowed out in recent years at a time when it is needed most.”
“That is why I have instructed the Home Office to carry out a rapid analysis on extremism, map and monitor trends in extremism, understand the evidence about what works to dissuade and divert people from extremist views, and identify gaps in existing policy that need to be addressed to crack down on those who promote harmful, hateful beliefs and violence.”
“This work will form the basis of the Government’s new strategic approach to countering extremism and will work closely with local communities to build consensus and momentum for our plans.”
The review is due to be completed this autumn as part of a new counter-extremism strategy that the Home Office is due to publish next year.
There are several categories of extremism ranked by the Home Office, including “incels”, or “involuntary celibates”, an online subculture in which a misogynistic worldview is promoted by men who blame women for a lack of sexual opportunities.
Last month a senior police official warned that online influencers such as Andrew Tate could incite young men and boys to radical misogyny in the same way that terrorists recruit followers.
Deputy Commissioner Maggie Bryce, national lead for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), said the impact on boys online was “deeply frightening”.
She said online safety laws needed to go further and faster action should be taken to protect children.
Mr Bryce said senior police officers focusing on violence against women and girls were liaising with counter-terrorism units to investigate the risk of young men being radicalised.
She said: “We know that some of these cases are also linked to the radicalisation of young people online. The elements of influencer Andrew Tate, particularly affecting young boys, are extremely frightening and this is something that we are discussing with the national counter-terrorism leadership from a VAWG perspective.”
The National Police Chiefs’ Council released a report calling violence against women and girls a national emergency.
Tait is currently awaiting trial in Romania on charges of rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal ring to sexually exploit women, charges he denies.
Last year, counter-extremism campaigners warned of an increase in the number of cases being referred by schools concerned about Tait’s influence.
The incidents included verbal harassment of female teachers and other students, as well as abusive language repeating the opinions of influencers.
One frontline worker working on cases for the prevention programme told the Guardian: “He [Tate] Obviously he doesn’t fit into the Prevent sphere, but incels do. He parallels and intersects with them. At school I find myself describing him as, effectively, toxic misogyny on steroids.”
