About the Series

This two-part webinar series will examine emerging research and tools on radicalisation and de-radicalisation in the UK context. The first webinar focuses on the findings from a recent dataset and research on growing cases of Islamist and far-right radicalisation among teenagers and children in the UK. The second webinar looks at developments in tools employed in extremism risk assessment in the UK, examining their validity and reliability for accurate assessments.

Abstract

The past decade has seen an increased development of new extremism risk assessment tools, some of which are used for practice (Extremist Risk Guidelines – ERG), and others that are intended for research (Violent Extremist Risk Assessment – VERA). As a result, the study of extremism now includes different perspectives and understanding of risk. This presentation will give an overview of the development of terrorism risk assessment tools; more specifically, it will cover the identification of individual risk factors, the criteria that help us assess the validity and reliability of risk assessment tools, and experimental studies to test such tools. The presentation will draw on existing theories and research, as well as recent research activities of the speaker.

Dr Sanaz Zolghadriha is a Lecturer in Crime Science at the University College London (UCL) Department of Security and Crime Science. Her expertise lies in analysing and understanding offending behaviour patterns, and the translation of analytical techniques in law enforcement practice. Most recently her focus has lied in understanding pathways and risks associated with serious and organised crime and extremism. Currently, she is the lead of a newly established international research group (including Danish Police, the Netherlands, and His Majesty’s Prison Service), where the different routes into serious and organised crime offending is explored through a range of studies. She has also conducted experimental research on terrorism risk assessment tools, as part of a project funded by Canada Community Safety. She is also involved in research projects funded by the UK Home Office, European Research Council, and the London Metropolitan Police.