POLICE in Devon have joined a nationwide appeal for internet users to report harmful extremist and terrorist material when they see it online.
All week forces across the UK, with agency partners, have been using their social media channels to urge people to report material they suspect is extremist or terrorist by clicking on a distinctive red ‘STOP’ button on their websites.
STOP stands for Stop Terrorists’ and extremists’ Online Presence.
After clicking on the button, web users are directed to a short, anonymous form at www.gov.uk/report-terrorism where they are asked to enter the address of the webpage where they saw the material.
The national Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU), which investigates the material, is today embarking on a 36-hour operation to secure the removal of the material as quickly as possible.
Since the CTIRU launched in 2010, it has prompted the removal of more than 160,000 pieces of extremist and terrorist material, much of which was flagged by members of public.
On average, it instigates the removal of more than 1,000 pieces of material a week, including terrorist propaganda videos, pictures of beheadings, bomb-making instructions and speeches calling for racial or religious violence.
It trawls the web every day, seeking the removal of the material which is a source of inspiration for extremists, terrorists and is often a means of radicalising vulnerable people.
In the next 36 hours, community members, charity representatives and an array of other partners will take part in workshops with the CTIRU to discuss how they can work together with communities to remove more material.