FOI request (FOIR-579501615)

Extremist material

Requested Mon 22 January 2024
Responded Tue 06 February 2024

I am interested in existing policies relating to countering terrorism and extremism.

In particular, how far-right extremism is countered by the organisation, with particular regard to potentially radicalising material/material that is linked to or may be considered to promote extremist ideologies.

Could you please provide me with the following information in answer to these questions:

A1. What training courses or training sessions, either delivered by internal or external instructors, do staff typically complete with regard to the issue of terrorism extremism? Are there mandatory courses?

Or, if there is no typical framework for courses, what courses have been delivered on this subject in the past 12 months up to date?

A2. If possible, can you please provide copies of the training material delivered in these sessions/courses (any slides, booklets, and so on)?

B1. What training material or material for guidance is currently held for staff? For example, is there a permanent staff handbook on spotting and dealing with signs of extremism?

B2. Could you please provide copies of any such material?

C1. Could you please provide any lists or summaries of material that has been deemed, in any guidance provided to staff, to be connected to extremist ideologies, or to promote these ideologies?

I am particular interested in material related to philosophy, arts, literature, film, and music.

For example, staff may be warned that Nietzsche books could be linked to extremists, as he may be favoured by groups with an extremist ideology.

Response

A1. Hastings Borough Council has an online course which all new starters to Hastings Borough Council have to undertake and that is regularly publicised in our weekly staff bulletin. This is an Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) Awareness course.

A2. Information not held, this is an online course.

B1. As per answer to question A1 which is available to all staff at all times and is regularly promoted.

B2. As per A2.

C1. Information not held.