Government to grant Charity Commission greater powers to tackle extremism
Since October 2023, Commission has opened over 400 regulatory cases for hate speech
The Government has announced major new plans to give the Charity Commission increased powers to close down organisations in the sector that promote extremism.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has asked officials to work with the regulator to expedite the process for investigating charities suspected of engaging in extremist behaviour, including strengthening its powers to close them down if necessary.
The proposed plans would automatically ban individuals with a criminal conviction for a hate crime from serving as charity trustees or senior managers.
Under the government’s new social cohesion strategy, unveiled on Monday, the watchdog will receive greater powers to remove trustees and shut down organisations that fuel hatred or engage in “extremist abuse”.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced the plans as part of a consultation to strengthen the powers of the Charity Commission in dealing with the growing number of charities promoting extremism.
The move came at the same time as a report by Lord Walney, the government’s former independent adviser on political violence and disruption, had claimed the Charity Commission was “toothless” in dealing with extremist organisations operating in the sector.
Walney named several charities with alleged clear links to the regime in Tehran in his 100-page report, Undue Influence, including the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), which organises the annual Al Quds demonstration that has been banned from taking place this weekend.
Walney also described the Islamic Centre of England (ICE), in north London, as an apparent “central node” in the Iranian-aligned charity network.
The government said it recognises that robust action is necessary to ensure that those with extremist agendas cannot exploit charitable status and undermine public trust in the sector.
The Board of Deputies, Jewish Leadership Council and the Community Security Trust were amongst the communal organisations to welcome the government’s move.
Since October 2023, the Charity Commission, which regulates charities in England and Wales to ensure that the public can support charities with confidence, has opened over 400 regulatory cases for hate speech, and made around 70 referrals to police where criminal offences may have been committed.
Nandy said:”Charities are the lifeblood of our communities, and we will not allow extremists to hijack their good name.
“By giving the Charity Commission the teeth it needs to act fast and decisively, we will close the door on those who exploit charitable status to spread hate, and open a new chapter that gives the sector the protection it deserves.
“This is a vital step in our ongoing work of national renewal and a Britain built for all.”
In the Commons, as he unveiled the government’s new social cohesion strategy, Communities Secretary Steve Reed confirmed that the increased powers given to the Charity Commission were a further step in the government’s plan to tackle rising antisemitism.
Reed told MPs,” The Charity Commission will be getting new powers so that it can close down those organisations that purport to have charitable objectives but are really a cover for promoting hatred and division.
“With the changes we are announcing today, that will no longer be allowed to continue.”
Reed, the housing, communities and local government secretary, added: “We must listen to people’s concerns about growing divisions and take action to bring our communities back together.”
Further measures under consideration include mandatory trustee ID verification, the digitisation of charity accounts, and a strengthening of local authority powers to issue fines and take other enforcement action.
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