David Cameron is in the process of launching a new terror task force to crack down on extremism in the wake of the horrific murder of Drummer Lee Rigby, Downing Street has confirmed.
The Cabinet level group, which will also bring in intelligence and police chiefs when needed, will focus on radical preachers who target potential recruits in jails, schools, colleges and mosques.
The UK Government wants work carried out to ensure religious leaders are not promoting extremist messages and wants mosque committees to be held to account for the choice of imams they make.
Ministers believe religious leaders who promote violence must be confronted “head on”, ideally through encouraging condemnation from groups that those vulnerable to radicalisation may listen to.
Polling for the newspaper found nearly half the public, 48%, is opposed to the Bill being revived while 40% backed its introduction.
The Survation research, based on interviews with 1,121 people online, also found that 64% want tougher laws to curb incitement to hatred and 63% backed the death penalty for terrorists.
Labour former Home Secretary Alan Johnson said he was “absolutely passionately” a supporter of the communications bill and suggested it was a resigning issue for Theresa May if she could not get it into law by 2015.
He told BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “I am absolutely with the Home Secretary because I feel very, very absolutely confident that she will be fighting for this.
“However, as well as the issues raised by the Prime Minister, the task force should also rethink
the changes and reductions made in the Prevent strategy by Theresa May in 2011.
The new strategy will not work without the support of mosques, their committees and worshippers, however many in the Muslim community are on the side of the government .
