OPERATION WEDGE

Formed by Searchlight Information Services in late 2003, Operation Wedge works in partnership with other organisations to provide the knowledge, the will and the necessary tools to understand, combat and challenge racial hatred.

Operation Wedge is an essential instrument in helping and providing crucial guidance and experience to those who engage with racists and racist ideas, to understand the nature, causes and effects that a racist or fascist influence has on sections of alienated youth in society.

Wedge is totally committed to working in partnership with bodies that deal with, or will come across, past or potential offenders. We are absolutely committed to the community ideal of protecting all members of the community from racist violence and intimidation, but further we believe that these influences must be understood, noted, acknowledged and defeated. This is why we firmly believe in the principle of engaging, challenging and confronting racism wherever it presents itself as a danger and as a threat to members of the community. All people involved within community work, education, law enforcement, probation, judiciary, health care and custody will in the course of their work at some time encounter persons who exhibit signs of hatred or hateful and divisive influences.

Searchlight has over forty years' experience in tackling organised racist and fascist organisations. It incorporates both a first-hand and an academic understanding of groups who have poisoned and still continue to poison the minds of young people.

Operation Wedge receives major funding from the Association of London Government and is sponsored by the Prison Service, Crown Prosecution Service, Probation Service and the trade unions POA and NAPO.