Extremists to be barred from working with children

Convicted terrorists and extremists will be barred from working with children under new proposals to be announced by David Cameron today.

Unveiling the government's latest strategy to combat terror, the prime minister will describe "defeating Islamist extremism" as "the struggle of our generation", notes The Independent.

Pledging that the government will do more to protect young people from radicalisation, he will describe it as "one of the biggest social problems we need to overcome".

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The new strategy will see the government's Disclosure and Barring Service given the power to automatically ban anyone with a conviction or civil order for terrorist or extremist activity from working with children and vulnerable people. This will see such offenders treated in the same way as those found guilty of sex crimes.

In a tightening of measures introduced in July, parents will have the right to apply to the Passport Office to cancel the passports of children up to the age of 17. The rule previously only applied to children under 16.

The Daily Telegraph adds that Cameron will announce the launch of "extremist disruption orders". The restriction orders, which will work similarly to anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs), are designed to restrict Islamist preachers from broadcasting, using social media or speaking at public events.

Cameron also hopes to revive plans for the "snoopers' charter", which was blocked by the Liberal Democrats during the coalition term. The charter will give the security services tough new powers to monitor telephone and internet communications by suspected terrorists.

Labour's shadow home secretary Andy Burnham said: "This is the greatest challenge of our age and the prime minister is right to devote his focus to it. For our part, we will always support measures that are reasonable, proportionate and evidence-based."