Victoria Police working to combat infiltration by far-right groups

Fears far-right extremists are actively trying to infiltrate Victoria Police have prompted to force to launch a counter-terrorism investigation.

Victoria Police are concerned about attempts from far-right groups to infiltrate the force. Picture: Zizi Averill.

Victoria Police is actively working to stop far right extremists from infiltrating their organisation.

The growing influence and recruitment capabilities of the far right is a huge concern for the force, which is currently conducting its second ever counter terror investigation into one Victorian based extreme right-wing group.

Assistant Commissioner Michael Hermans, of the Counter Terrorism Command, on Friday revealed Victoria Police is undertaking internal assessments to ensure its members would not be susceptible to approaches or influences of the far right.

“We are looking at potential weaknesses within our organisation to make sure we are cognisant of the potential,” Mr Hermans said.

“There are groups like outlaw motorcycle groups that do aspire to make connections with people in government and police and that might be for intelligence or to create capability.”

Mr Herman said government officials, military members and criminals were also considered prime targets by extremists.

“They like to recruit for capability and that may come from places like prison or ex-military,” he said.

Victoria Police has launched a counter terrorism investigation. Picture: Morgan Sette/AAP.

Senior members of Victoria Police’s counter terror command and terrorism experts held a briefing in Melbourne on Friday to explain the growing threat posed by far right extremists in the community.

It was revealed “hundreds” of extremists are on Victoria’s counter terrorism radar, with about 40 per cent identified as right-wing radicals – which has doubled in 18 months.

It also emerged that a highly secretive investigation into an extreme right-wing group was underway.

It’s the second of its kind in Victoria and could result in terror charges against individuals.

Mr Herman would not detail what had sparked the investigation except that the group’s activities had met a serious threat threshold.

“The threshold to get to an active CT investigation is terrorism,” he said.

The first counter terror investigation into a far right extremist in Victoria resulted in the conviction of terrorist Phillip Galea who plotted attacks on the Victorian Trades Hall and Melbourne Anarchist Club.

Victoria University associate professor and extremism expert Debra Smith said extremists, including white supremacists and aggressive nationalists, manipulate political and social issues to recruit others into believing Australia is under threat and that the government cannot be trusted.

The growing influence and recruitment capabilities of the far right is a huge concern for the force. Picture: Joe Castro/AAP.

What makes these groups so dangerous is that they validate and justify violence as a legitimate tactic with the intention of inspiring a lone actor to commit and act of violence, Ms Smith said.

Her research team found a 59 per cent spike in “high risk” internet searches which could include “how to make a bomb” following events, such as protests, organised by extremist groups.

“It’s not about having a command or control. It’s about putting an environment out there which says ‘hey if you do this act of violence you will be celebrated and will be making history’,” she said.

“They create hope someone on the fringes might just rise up and do something.”

Lone actors arguably pose the greatest risk to public safety because it’s easier for them to fall between the enforcement cracks.

However Deputy Commissioner Ross Guenther said “never before” had police been so well resourced to intercept these threats.

“I would never say we can (thwart) every possible threat – that’s just not possible, you can’t say that. But in terms of our connectivity and work with academia to understand the issue, we are very well placed,” he said.

@AneekaSimonis

Originally published as Victoria Police working to combat infiltration by far-right groups