Key Takeaways from the 2nd IN2PREV Network Panel Thematic Debate: Addressing Radicalisation Assessment
 
The 2nd Network Panel Thematic Debate (NPTD) on Addressing Radicalisation Assessment took place online on February 21, 2025, bringing together 41 participants from 12 European countries.  

​The event facilitated discussions among professionals from law enforcement, non-governmental organisations, research institutions, and international organisations, reflecting the expanding scope and relevance of the IN2PREV project. 

The debate was preceded by two presentations that provided essential context. Firstly, Margarida Damas, Head of Unit at IPS, delivered a compelling overview of radicalisation within communities, with a strong focus on the TV-RAT Assessment Tool, a key product of the R2COM project. Following this, Ondřej Kolář, from the Police Academy of the Czech Republic in Prague, gave an insightful presentation on the identification and significance of radical signals and symbols, offering valuable perspectives on this critical area.

The subsequent discussions were structured into focused breakout sessions that explored key challenges, ethical dilemmas, and best practices in radicalisation risk assessment. The main topics included:
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Challenges in Correctly Interpreting Radical Signals and Symbols:

• Understanding Symbols: Participants highlighted the difficulties in recognising and interpreting radical symbols, which can lead to misinterpretation or missed warning signs.
• Copying Behaviour vs. Genuine Belief: Many individuals may adopt radical symbols as imitation rather than genuine belief, making assessing their level of radicalisation challenging.
• Contextual Variability: The meaning of radical symbols differs across cultures and regions, complicating identification efforts.
• Misuse of Religious Symbols: Distorting religious symbols for radical purposes can result in confusion and misjudgement. 

Ensuring Risk Assessments Are Both Effective and Fair:

• Security Clearance as a Barrier: Information-sharing restrictions between sectors due to security clearance requirements hinder effective assessments.
• Consistency vs. Individual Nuances: While applying standardised rules is necessary, rigid assessments may overlook important individual circumstances.
• Ethical Concerns in Data Collection: Collecting sensitive data, such as religious affiliations, raises ethical questions, especially in right-wing extremism cases where misinformation can fuel stereotypes.
• Challenges in Sharing Sensitive Data: Transparency and safeguards are essential to prevent misuse or manipulation of data that could stigmatise communities.

 
Collaboration to ensure accurate assessments while avoiding bias or unintended harm:

• Common Language and Shared Goals: Establishing a mutual understanding across sectors ensures fair and consistent risk assessments.
• Considering Consequences of Assessments: Assessments should be designed with awareness of their impact on individuals and communities.
• Clear Communication with Individuals: Open dialogue with those being assessed ensures fairness and transparency.
• Inclusive Language and Approaches: Careful terminology choices, such as “risk” versus “vulnerability,” help prevent stigma and bias.  

The discussions from this panel contribute to the ongoing efforts of the IN2PREV project to refine radicalisation risk assessment practices and promote effective, ethical, and evidence-based approaches in this critical area. Moving forward, the IN2PREV project remains committed to enhancing these discussions and providing practical, impactful solutions in this critical area.

​The IN2PREV project is led by the BSAFE LAB – University of Beira Interior (Portugal), and partnered by IPS_Innovative Prison Systems (Portugal), the Polish Platform for Homeland Security (Poland), the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies (Spain), the European Association for Social Innovation (Romania), the General Police Inspectorate (Moldova), the Bureau of Migration and Asylum (Moldova), the Centre for Security Studies (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and the Academy of the Police Force in Bratislava (Slovakia).
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For more information on the IN2PREV project, please visit its page.