Management Information Sheet
Advice for schools - Safeguarding and the Incel ideology
Current picture
The first mass shooting in the UK for over a decade occurred in Plymouth on 12 August 2021.
The driving forces behind the actions of Jake Davidson who shot and killed his own mother before killing a 3-year-old girl, her father and three others during a shooting spree appear mixed in with 'Incel' (Involuntary Celibacy) issues and the wider ideology that accompanies it.
This tragic event highlighted the changing shape of hidden harm and radicalisation built around a relatively new set of considerations that professionals and those tasked with safeguarding vulnerable individuals must navigate.
These crimes, while not proscribed as terrorist incidents due to individual motive and intention, have certainly prompted discussions at national and local levels about what steps are being taken to safeguard around this area.
There is genuine concern that vulnerable individuals perhaps challenged by enforced isolation brought about by the pandemic, exposed to harmful material found online along with a growing feeling of grievance creates a new space for harmful influencers to recruit potential victims.
Access to a variety of online forums linked to Incel matters, some of which appear to encourage violence, support misogynistic hate crime, and justify action based on extreme views continues to be the main source of material initially sought out by those displaying concerning behaviour.
Mechanisms exist to remove some of the most problematic online sites linked to radicalisation. Latest figures show around 300,000 pieces of material have been removed by dedicated teams charged with making these virtual spaces safer. Agencies are often playing catch up; those responsible for promoting the concerning messaging appear adept at staying ahead of the chasing groups.
There are opportunities to tackle these issues. Professionals engaged in safeguarding have the potential to identify subtle changes in individuals at an early stage while displaying professional curiosity around some of the warning signs where alarms have been raised.
Sharing concerns with a manager, safeguarding leads or specialist contacts can assist in making the right referrals through established routes. Acting early before a curiosity develops into a more destructive pattern of behaviour allows help to be carefully considered and geared correctly to offer the necessary support.
What are Incels?
'Incel' (or 'involuntary celibate') refers to an individual's desire for, but lack of, romantic and sexual success. Incels often express intense hatred for women, believing that they are entitled to sexual and romantic attention, and perceive women as denying them these needs.
Incels tend to refer to themselves as being 'black pilled', denoting a lack of hope in the situations they are experiencing. It is worth paying attention to certain types of language, common within associated groups, for example the mention of 'blue and red pills' - potentially referring to the film The Matrix where the lead character is asked to choose and swallow a pill allowing them to finally break free from the 'the system - the Matrix'. It is noted that only a very small proportion of those caught up with Incel ideology have moved towards extreme violence.
It is important to note that Incels appear to be more of a subculture than a coherent group or organisation, and criminal acts from those who identify as Incel are often not intended to progress an ideology, meaning they primarily sit in the crime space. It is possible that some Incels may cross the terrorism threshold if they use violence, threaten people, or encourage action to advance their view of how society should be.
Crimes driven by Incel ideology are assessed on a case-by-case basis and continue to be monitored across the UK as an emerging threat.
How do Incel forums radicalise?
It is sadly very easy to be drawn into these forums - they are geared to attract young people. The forums work to make vulnerable people feel victimised; like any other extremist movement, they go to great lengths to portray the person as a victim. They identify a common enemy and suggest that they are the cause of certain problems. Finally, they bounce their anecdotes and experiences off each other during online discussion forums which turn into echo chambers, reinforcing extreme views.
The subculture seeks to manipulate individual desires, and where those can't be fulfilled creates tension and exploits feelings of frustration. External signs and signals displayed by individuals could be linked to depression; these traits should be carefully considered against the broader themes of the ideology, especially if weighted with wider aggravating factors.
This repeated fixated behaviour driven by likeminded associates as encountered in some of the chat rooms can lead to individuals to then search for someone to take out their anger and frustrations on. Individuals can go on to look for an external reason as to why they are not getting what they want, and perhaps take extreme measures and do something about it.
What steps can be taken to reduce the harm
Incels are often everyday people who begin showing signs of a stepped change in their attitude and ability to engage in a rational way with those around them. A failure with a particular aspect of their life has possibly led them along a pathway where they are being radicalised by extreme ideas online.
The nature of their grievances must be interpreted and understood before steps are taken to explore with them the idea that hate driven and violent behaviour is not the solution to their problems. It remains important not to invalidate anyone's individual struggles.
Professionals can support efforts to understand associated risks by remaining familiar with the online space - that's more than just a casual glance at Google, Facebook, and Instagram history - to understand what's going on.
Show curiosity around the forums and platforms that are being visited. Setting aside time to have discussions with young people informed by some of the topics mentioned here considering terms, language and themes that that frequently occur could make the difference and secure the right support at a crucial stage.
Gaming platforms play a growing part in spreading Incel related messages and provide a relatively 'unpoliced' arena for some forms of extreme ideology to take hold. It is common to see the activity of 'trolls' on these virtual platforms making hateful remarks, resulting in long strings of associated comments. Some people operate in this space with the single intention to look for and identify likeminded individuals, who they can manipulate further, seeing how far they are willing to be pushed towards causing or suffering harm.
Incel case study - Sam
Radicalisation is often a complicated process; individuals can be vulnerable to being drawn into it for many different reasons. It is often the case that whatever they are caught up in, professionals can work together to untangle it.
Below is a case study taking from the North of England. It shows the young person in question was enabled to discuss his beliefs and views in a safe environment with the support of specialists, and over time became more accepting of others.
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While in his first year, Sam's university received an anonymous report that a student was posting offensive comments on Twitter, claiming that Muslims 'needed culling' and 11 expressing sympathies with Nazism and white supremacy. The university was able to identify Sam as being behind the account and referred him to Prevent for support. When assessing Sam's case, the Channel panel were able to establish that Sam has previously been referred into Prevent on two occasions, following comments made at school supporting Nazis, and while he was at college, where he stated his favourite book was Mein Kampf. On both occasions, Sam's parents had refused consent for Prevent. As Sam was now over 18, his parents' consent was no longer needed, however they were kept regularly informed with Sam's progress. Following a long conversation with the Channel Coordinator, they understood the need to engage with Prevent and the benefits it would have in moving Sam away from damaging behaviours. Sam had several sessions with a specialist intervention provider (IP), who helped him work through his issues, including building resilience to information he saw online and helping him process negative or intrusive thoughts. The IP also picked up on and addressed Sam's emerging incel attitudes, which he had gravitated towards following the murder of Sarah Everard and after engaging with fantasy role play games online, and which was a driving force behind some of his anger. The IP also helped organized a referral to Sam's GP for potential undiagnosed autism-spectrum disorders. By engaging with Prevent, Sam understood how to communicate with his peers in an appropriate way and was able to return to university, with extra support in place to ensure he was not engaging in activity which would get him suspended. The source of his ideological concerns was addressed, and Sam's mum thanked Prevent for the positive impact Channel had on her son. |
Further support and links
This is a link to the NCC Preventing radicalisation web page: it contains additional information including referral forms and guidance on supporting people and protecting them from harm.
Russ Cole is the NCC Prevention of Radicalisation coordinator and can be contacted on 01603 638186 and via email at russell.cole2@norfolk.gov.uk to assist with further material and support.