End of year report, 2021 to 2022 (accessible) – GOV.UK

The Commission for Countering ExtremismEnd of Year Report, 2021-2022, March 2022Foreword

It was a great honour to be appointed the Interim Commissioner at the Commission for Countering Extremism (CCE) in March 2021.

Extremism is a scourge on our society and the challenges it poses are great: communities divided, viewing each other with mutual suspicion and hatred. A rejection of democratic values and principles. A mindset that justifies or leads to hate crime or terrorism.

My time in office has reinforced my belief that the CCE is uniquely placed to assist government in providing a robust response to extremism in all its forms.

Since being appointed, I have provided advice to the government on the future structure and function of the Commission.

In doing so, I engaged with Ministers, policy officials, law enforcement, intelligence, prison governors, and regulatory bodies. I wanted a clear understanding of the issues they face while addressing extremism whether that is online, in schools, prisons, charities, or elsewhere and to look at the knowledge base on extremism, including with those who have front-line operational roles.

That engagement helped me better understand why there is such a need to increase the awareness of extremism across the public sector and the challenges government faces around engagement, particularly with groups where there is an extremism concern.

I was therefore pleased that the Home Secretary shared my vision of a permanent Commissioner-led body that can provide independent advice and expertise to government.

However, the CCE cannot only be government facing. Coming from a think-tank background, I am aware of the expertise that exists outside government. That is why we continue to engage with think-tanks, civil society groups, and academics, to understand how best to harness fresh and innovative external thinking around counter-extremism.

The CCEs Academic Practitioner Counter Extremism Network (APCEN) plays a vital role here, helping connect practitioners with leading academics specialising in the study of extremism. I am pleased that APCENs membership has grown in the past 12 months and I am considering how best to utilise APCENs expertise and knowledge in the future.

There is much to do. The extremism landscape is dynamic and evolving.

However, the challenges it presents are consistent. We will do all we can to ensure the CCE is at the forefront of addressing them.

Robin Simcox, Interim Commissioner for Countering Extremism

Robin Simcox was appointed as Interim Commissioner for Countering Extremism in March 2021. This appointment was made for an initial six month period, following the conclusion of Dame Sara Khan DBEs three-year tenure as Commissioner.

The important work of the Commission for Countering Extremism will continue, and Im delighted Robin Simcox will bring his expertise and innovative thinking to this role.

The objectives, as set out by the Home Secretary for the Interim Commissioner, required Robin to work across government and with external partners in England and Wales.

Since March 2021, this work has included providing advice to the Home Secretary on the future structure and function of the Commission, raising awareness around extremism in all its forms across the public sector, and considering how best public bodies can be supported in their efforts to disrupt those who seek to sow division in our communities. The Commission has also worked closely with Home Office and other government departments, to support better understanding of extremism across a range of ideologies and behaviours, helping shape policy and advice on departmental counter extremism work.

Part of the Commissions remit requires engagement across the counter extremism sector. In carrying out this work, the Commission has engaged widely across government, regulatory bodies, and law enforcement over the last twelve months. A full list of our engagements can be found at Annex B.

Through this engagement, the Commission has sought to better understand the issues faced in identifying and combatting extremism, and how best we can develop our shared knowledge on extremism. These conversations have highlighted to us the dedication and passion for counter extremism work that exists across the public sector, as well as the continued need for a permanent and independent Commissioner-led body on extremism.

My time as Interim Commissioner for Countering Extremism so far has only served to reinforce my belief that a robust governmental response to extremism is necessary. I have been very heartened to see such Ministerial enthusiasm for the role of the Commission in helping to shape this response, and such willingness across government to harness the Commissions expertise.

Robin Simcox, Interim Commissioner for Countering ExtremismOctober 2021

Over the last 12 months, the Commission has continued to grow its Academic and Practitioner Counter Extremism Network (APCEN), which was set up in October 2020.The Network brings together leading academics with policy officials and practitioners from the counter extremism sector. APCEN works to identify knowledge gaps, share new and emerging trends and research, and facilitate collaborative working and projects between members. APCEN significantly enhances the CCEs ability to provide expert advice and knowledge to government around extremism in England and Wales.

Keeping our country safe and secure is the firstduty of the government. The Commission for Countering Extremism holds a vital role in our national securityYour work is challenging. Your work makes a difference, both at home and abroad.

The Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, Home SecretaryFebruary 2022

In February 2022, the Commission hosted the first CCE Conference, bringing together government policy officials, academics, and public sector practitioners to consider how extremism manifests itself in the UK today and how best the sector should be responding. Panels included in-depth conversations on online harms, children and education, and prisons.

As an independent, arms-length body of the Home Office, our budget and spending is negotiated with the Home Office and is subject to Home Office finance policy and HM Treasury rules, including value for public money, and follow systems and processes for HR and procurement. The Commissions budget allocation and expenditure is in Annex A.

The Commission also recognises the importance of transparency. While we are not covered by the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, to support transparency in our work we respond to all appropriate requests that come direct to us, or via the Home Office. The Commission received seven FOI requests over the last 12 months and responded to all of them.

Robin Simcox starts in-post as Interim Commissioner, immediately beginning engagement with key stakeholders, both in and outside of government.

Robin presents his vision for the CCE to Munira Mirza, then Director of the No 10 Policy Unit, outlining his views on future government policy and the issues currently being faced by counter extremism practitioners.

Robin continues his engagement across the sector. Meetings include Counter- Terrorism Policing, and William Shawcross, Independent Reviewer of Prevent.

Robin meets with Baroness Williams of Trafford, Minister of State, to outline his priorities and future vision for the Commission.

Robin posts his first online CCE blog as Interim Commissioner.

Robins engagement across the sector includes visits to HMP Wandsworth and HMP Belmarsh. Meetings include the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group, Antisemitism Policy Trust, and several leading academics.

Robin meets Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, Home Secretary to deliver advice and insights on key issues and challenges for government in countering extremism.

Robin takes part in a panel discussion on terrorism and extremism alongside Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE QC and Sir Alex Younger, as part of CEGs Young Leaders in National Security Fellowship.

Robin meets representatives from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and discusses extremism faced by the community, during a tour of the Baitul Futuh Mosque.

Robin delivers a speech on the work of the Commission and its aims to the University of Salford.

The Commissions Academic and Practitioner Counter Extremism Network marks the end of its successful twelve month pilot phase.

Robin meets Damien Hinds MP, Minister for Security, to discuss extremist threats and express the urgent need for a robust response to extremism.

Robin posts his second CCE blog, reflecting on his first six months in post.

Alongside advisory engagement with policy officials, Robin continues to engage academics across the country, to better harness innovation and insights from academia and think tanks. Themes discussed include the Far Right and the effectiveness of laws around proscription.

The Commission attend and feed into several cross-government roundtables and advisory meetings.

Robin receives presentations on Salafism and alt-right online subcultures.

The Commission hosts its first ever panel event, bringing the Home Secretary, senior policy officials, academics and practitioners together to share knowledge and insights.

The Commissions budget for Financial Year 2021/22 is 1,000,000 per annum. This is in line with (HMT) Guidance on Managing Public Money (the consent for our expenditurewas based on HMT consent under the guidance in Box 2.6),[footnote 2] and agreement from the Home Office.

Up to the end of January 2022, the Commission has spent 402,598.22.

The Financial end of year forecast for 2021/22 is c846,000. This includes pay andnon-pay, CCE projects, legal fees, IT and accommodation, and 300k underspend accrued due to delays in staff recruitment returned to Home Office Finance on 21/01/22.

Robin Simcox claimed 62.93 in expenses from April 2021 to the end of February 2022.

To respect data protection requirements, organisations names are listed rather than academics.

The Interim Commissioners engagement includes one-to-one meetings, workshops, conferences, and group discussions.

No.10

Home Office

Security Services

Ofsted

Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office

HM Prisons and Probations Service

Department for Education

Hate Crime Policing

Ofcom

Counter Terrorism Policing

Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities

Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport

Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group

Charity Commission

Independent Press Standards Office

Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE QC

HMP Wandsworth

HMP Belmarsh

Local Government Authority

The Prime Ministers Independent Advisor on Social Cohesion & Resilience

The Independent Reviewer of Prevent

The Independent Faith Engagement Advisor

The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation

The Rt Hon Priti Patel MP (as Secretary of State for the Home Department)

Damian Hinds MP (as Minister of State for Security and Borders)

Baroness Williams of Trafford (as Minister of State Home Office)

Jane Hutt MS (as Minister for Social Justice, Wales)

University College London

Coventry University

University of Salford

Anglia Ruskin University

Kings College London

Swansea University

University of Huddersfield

Brunel University

University of Birmingham

University of Kent

Tech Against Terrorism

CREST Advisory

Centre for Countering Digital Hate

Moonshot

Unity Initiative

APCEN

Public.IO

Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right

Veritable Analytics

REOC Communications

Policy Exchange

Institute for Strategic Dialogue

Counter Extremism Group

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End of year report, 2021 to 2022 (accessible) - GOV.UK