Canada funds new projects to combat radicalisation and other emerging threats

The Canadian Department of National Defence has unveiled new projects to support the law enforcement community across the country.

Funded through the Canadian Safety and Security Programme, the $12m projects are expected to provide support for new tools and knowledge to better support law enforcement and protect Canadians.

The first two projects will combat radicalisation, with the first focused on assessing challenges and barriers facing young adults who could be at risk of violence and radicalisation to develop effective community- based strategies to prevent such radicalisation and stop them from following the path of ISIS and other extremist organisations.

The second will lead an effort to better understand the various mechanisms including online or otherwise through which Canadian youth and others are led to such radical and extremist views. Such information is scheduled to be used to better manage and prevent such threats.

Canadian Associate Minister Defence Minister Julian Fantino said: "We have also seen far too often some youth in Canada becoming corrupted and radicalised by ISIS and other extremists groups looking to inflict violence and terror in Canada and beyond.

"Combined, two of the projects announced today will help the Harper Government’s larger battle against ISIS, violent jihad and other extremists – and make our communities safer as a result."

The DND is also financing two projects focused on enhancing capabilities of an existing telerobotics system used to remotely dismantle bombs and other improvised explosive devices from a safe distance, as well as supporting the development of solutions against intrusions into restricted airspace and other illegal action by individuals using small unmanned aircraft systems.

Three more projects have also been approved to help development of additional support systems for law enforcement involved in Canada’s border security.

Three additional projects are looking to assist law enforcement battling cybercrime and cyberterrorism by improving the use of modern communications technology.

Led by Defence Research and Development Canada, the CSSP aims to strengthen Canada’s ability to anticipate, mitigate, prepare, respond, and recover from terrorist acts, crime, natural disasters, and serious accidents.