Schools and police failing to warn parents of children at risk of travelling to join Isis, say MPs

Schools and police are heavily criticised by MPs today for failing to alert parents that their children are at risk of fleeing Britain to join Isis forces.

They call for a drive to win the “hearts and minds” of susceptible teenagers, warning that without urgent action many more could follow the 600 Britons already believed to have gone to Syria.

The Commons home affairs select committee also urges ministers to take tougher action to stop people flying to war zones, to work with UK nationals returning from Syria and to tackle radicalisation in prisons.

Its criticisms follow an investigation into the case of three London schoolgirls who absconded to Syria in an apparent desire to become “jihadi brides”.

Police failed to alert their parents that a close school friend had already linked up with militant fighters in Syria, simply giving the girls letters to take home.

“Communication between the police, schools and parents is in need of vast improvement,” the MPs said.

“Schools and the police must inform parents immediately, and work together when there is even the smallest hint of radicalisation, or a close association with someone thought to have been radicalised.”

It suggested the establishment of a confidential phone hotline where parents can get advice or raise concerns about youngsters being preyed upon over the internet by foreign terrorists.

The MPs accused the Home Office of failing to place enough emphasis on stopping UK nationals travelling overseas to join terror groups in Syria, Somalia, Iraq and Nigeria, as well as “transit countries” such as Turkey. It urged the department to work with airlines to “develop stricter controls” for passengers travelling to such destinations.

And it said the police needed to take swifter action than they did in the case of the three girls to alert foreign forces when vulnerable youngsters are suspected of heading to join Isis.

Keith Vaz, the committee’s chairman, stressed the crucial importance of working closely with communities, families and international partners to tackle the growing threat of radicalisation.

“This must be a relentless battle for hearts and minds, and without a strong counter-narrative we are in danger of failing to prevent even more departures. We are at the edge of a cliff,” he said.