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Leaked Report Identifies Potential New Sources of Extremism in the UK

UK Police

Policy Exchange, a right-leaning think tank in the UK, claims it has obtained leaked documents that determine the government's policy on extremism and provides possible countermeasures.

According to the report published by the think tank, the leaked document lists such things as conspiracy theories, misogyny, violence against women and girls, having "a fixation on gore and violence without adherence to an extremist ideology," preventing integration, influencing racism and intolerance, or involvement in "an online subculture called the manosphere” (websites, blogs, and online forums promoting masculinity, misogyny, and opposition to feminism), as the "behaviours and activity of concern" and "damaging extremist beliefs."

Policy Exchange has criticized the document, saying that, for example, while governments should be alarmed by violence against women and other social harms, these “do not, or largely do not, constitute extremism."

"One of counter-extremism’s key problems has always been deciding which of the many individuals who come to their attention they should focus their limited resources on," the think tank said, adding that by swamping already stretched interveners and counter-terror police, it is more likely that dangerous people will be missed.

However, the allegedly leaked paper also concedes that "it is challenging to identify the extent to which misogyny is explicitly and consciously (or unconsciously) operationalised among violent extremists."

Meanwhile, among the recommendations in the obtained document, as per Policy Exchange, there is a recommendation for ministers to consider whether to introduce a new criminal offence of making "harmful communications," for instance on social media.

Also, the document reportedly has five suggestions that could help counter extremism. These include:

  • Strengthening a punitive approach;
  • Increasing the focus on prevention;
  • Taking a behaviour-based and ideologically agnostic approach;
  • Adopting an enhanced online approach; and
  • Achieving effective cross-government delivery.

Additionally, according to the think tank, some of the measures would cost around £180 million ($224 million) to implement from 2026–2027.

"Overall, the leaked documents are a hodgepodge, with some grounds for encouragement, such as a counter-extremism ministerial board — but also significant cause for concern," Policy Exchange concluded, warning that the Government risks spreading its efforts too thin and insufficiently focusing on the areas that matter most.

The Home Office has publicly confirmed that the document is legitimate, stressing that these findings and recommendations are still a work in progress.

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