Victoria Police seeks to deradicalise violent extremists with new program

As fears grow of a serious threat from far-Right radicals, Victoria Police is stepping up its fight to protect the public from violent extremism.

Right-wing radicals are being put through a new ­deradicalisation program amid rising fears of violent extremism in Victoria.

Victoria Police has stepped up its fight against far-Right extremism with a new early- ­intervention program targeting people considered a potential danger to society.

The program is designed to moderate the extreme ideological beliefs held by individuals and divert them from using or encouraging violence, harassment and psychological harm.

It includes case management, mentoring and support in areas relating to employment, mental health, family conflict and drug and alcohol abuse, in an effort to steer ­people from ­radicalisation.

The program complements an existing Victoria Police-led community integration and support program, which has helped counsel and rehabilitate Islamic extremists, including convicted terrorists, for more than a decade.

“Victoria Police will not comment specifically on the ongoing activities of far-Right groups, except to say that we closely monitor a range of groups to ensure there is no threat to public safety,” a spokeswoman said.

“Responding to these groups and associated events and protests is part of what police do on a daily basis. We are equipped and well-prepared to deploy resources and to respond and intervene where needed.

A National Socialist Network gathering in the Grampians. Picture: Supplied

“Victoria Police also works closely with its state and federal partners, and our joint counter-terrorist team has ­undertaken a number of investigations covering extremism from a range of backgrounds irrespective of religious, political or ideological motivation.”

Right-wing extremism came into sharp focus in Victoria following the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings, where 51 people were murdered at two mosques by an Australian white supremacist.

The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated and intensified ideological extremism in the community due to people spending more time at home online, consuming dangerous and hate-filled propaganda and conspiracies.

In recent weeks there has been a surge of ideological-driven violence in Victoria, ­including a neo-Nazi invasion at Halls Gap and an assault on a media building security guard by the leader of the ­National Socialist Network. Australian Security Intelligence Organisation director-general Mike Burgess this week revealed ideological ­extremists now make up 40 per cent of the domestic spy agency’s terrorism caseload.

He added that COVID-19 had reinforced extremist beliefs on social and racial divisions to the point where some radicals have sought to stockpile weapons for self-defence.

“People often think we’re talking about skinheads with swastika tattoos and jackboots, looking like extras from Romper Stomper, but it’s no longer that obvious,” he said.

Police are watching neo-Nazi group the Antipodean Resistance.

“More often than not, they are young, well-educated, ­articulate, and middle class — and not easily identified.”

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton recently declared the Australian government would add UK-based far right-wing extremist group, Sonnenkrieg Division, to its list of proscribed terrorist organisations.

It’s the first and only right-wing group to be added to the list.

Left-wing extremists are also on the radar of counter terrorism police in Victoria.

In its submission to the federal inquiry into extremist movements and radicalism in Australia, Victoria Police wrote: “The right-wing extremism threat does not exist in a vacuum and is directly influenced by a symbiotic relationship with the threat of left wing extremism.”

“In addition to violent conflict at organised right wing extremist events and public demonstrations, Victorian-based left wing extremist movements and individuals are mimicking overseas based left wing extremists movements (such as ANTIFA) to justify the use of violence to promote civil unrest and target perceived enemy groups.”

Victoria Police said it was “committed to responding to any acts of racism, discrimination or vilification based on religion, culture or ethnicity” and encourgaed victims or prejudicial abuse to come forward.

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