Police say signs of radicalisation are appearing in younger children

Signs of radicalisation are emerging in children as young as 12 or 13, Pärtel Preinvalts, head of the radicalisation prevention group at the Police and Border Guard Board’s Northern Prefecture, told ERR.

The shift is also being seen in many Western countries, including the United States, Preinvalts said. The age at which signs appear has fallen from about 15 or 16 to 12 or 13, or even younger. He said young people are looking for a sense of belonging and identity.

Preinvalts said juvenile crime had risen moderately over the past three years, while the share of offences against the person had increased significantly. Such offences made up 27.5% of juvenile crime in 2016, 48.8% in 2022 and 44.7% last year.

That points to a shift away from offences such as shoplifting and vandalism towards incidents involving violence, he said. Even if overall crime figures fall, the proportion of offences with a greater impact on victims and communities can rise.

Young people often develop a sense of belonging through shared activities that may not initially appear connected to radicalisation. Some may not realise what kind of group they have joined until an adult explains it to them, Preinvalts said.

He said patriotism can become a pretext for hatred, with minorities targeted and conflict sought in the media and public spaces. It can begin online and later move into public spaces through the distribution of stickers and other propaganda material.

Preinvalts said radical views and strong opinions can be part of a young person’s development, and many grow out of them without posing a threat. Radicalisation becomes a problem when it involves glorifying or using violence.

Ideological influence is more accessible to young people than ever, he said. Online algorithms can lead users to material that gradually normalises unlawful behaviour, sometimes without them noticing.

He added that the state does not intervene in people’s beliefs, but is responsible for the safety and security of everyone. Democracy also protects civic activism regardless of age.

The Ministry of Justice is running a project to prevent young people from reoffending. It aims to support people aged 14 to 29 with a history of offences to participate in society, manage independently, enter education or the labour market, and remain there.

The ministry is seeking a service provider to help young people with extremist views avoid further offences and return to education or work.