Radicalism and Child Protection; working with the community

Abstract

Using emerging themes from The Victoria Climbié Foundation UK’s advocacy casework service, this article highlights how child protection is failing predominantly Muslim children and mothers in cases linked to radicalism. The intention of the article is to highlight parallels between the actions of perpetrators of domestic abuse and those of social workers under the PREVENT duty as part of the UK government’s counter-terrorism policies.

In considering some of the key indicators of domestic abuse, we highlight the way in which the state uses elements of manipulation, coercion and isolation in order to purportedly reduce the risk of radicalisation and protect the wider public. However, the counterpoint to this is the disproportionate and significant impact on children and mothers.

Taking an intersectional perspective that considers the lived experience of those who are most significantly impacted by the PREVENT policy, we argue that understanding the interplay of race, religion, gender and age is important in cases where there is a risk of radicalism.

Dioum, M., Yorath, S., & Shall, S. (2025). Radicalism and child protection: working with the community. Critical and Radical Social Work, 13(2), 195-205. Retrieved Jun 17, 2026

https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/crsw/13/2/article-p195.xml