PARTISAN proposals for a “faster and bolder” crackdown on so-called extremism should be treated sceptically, peace activists warned today.

The Commissioner for Countering Extremism Robin Simcox said on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that extremist ideologies and anti-semitism were on the rise, and said police should make more use of powers to crack down on offences like glorifying terrorism.

He also backed Tory bids to ban the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement in solidarity with Palestine and potential broadcasting restrictions on allegedly extremist voices.