Mayor of London Sadiq Khan
(Picture: PA)Sadiq Khan has pledged more funding to counter racism, hate, intolerance, extremism and radicalisation across the capital.
A further £600,000 in funding will be made available to community and civic action groups to deliver to bid for and deliver projects that counter extremism in London.
Through the third round of the Mayor’s Shared Endeavour Fund, grants of up to £45,000 will be awarded to individual projects which strengthens communities against extremism and encourages Londoners to stand up to hate and intolerance.
Eligible projects may also focus on safeguarding Londoners vulnerable to radicalisation as well as to help stop the spread of hateful and supremacist ideologies.
Mr Khan said: “Nothing is more important to me than keeping Londoners safe and this continued investment from City Hall will help us do even more to tackle violent extremism in all its forms.
“Recent targeted attacks in the USA have shown that violent extremism remains one of the biggest threats facing many cities around the world, including London.
“Hate and intolerance have absolutely no place in our city and I am continuing to work closely with the Met and communities across the capital as we work to counter extremism and radicalisation in London.
He added: “Impactful local projects can make a real difference in strengthening our communities against extremism and the vile ideologies which seek to divide us.
“I would like to thank all those who play such a vital frontline role in this shared endeavour, and I welcome new applications to this fund from excellent projects.”
Group-led projects have until Monday June 20 to submit a grant application.
The chosen projects will demonstrate how they combat racism, hate, intolerance, extremism and radicalisation in London.
Authorities fear an increase in the amount of time spent online during the Covid-19 pandemic has left more children vulnerable to being radicalised.
Police saw the number of terrorism arrests for all age groups except children fall during the pandemic.
On Tuesday a 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of sharing Islamist terrorist material, the Metropolitan Police said.
The teenager was detained in west London by officers from the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command.
Commander Richard Smith, head of the Counter Terrorism Command, said they had seen a rise in the number of teenagers being drawn into terrorism.
Figures show in the year to March 2021, 13 per cent of suspects arrested for terrorism offences were aged under 18, compared to five per cent the previous year.
