Prevent
The Prevent strategy, was published by the Government in 2011, is part of our overall counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST, outlining three specific strategic objectives:
- respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it
- prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support
- work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to address.
Prevent is an early intervention programme, mobilised locally by a range of partners, which protects individuals targeted by terrorist influences by providing local, multi-agency safeguarding support.
Children are vulnerable to extremist ideology and radicalisation. Similar to protecting children from other forms of harms and abuse, protecting children from this risk should be a part of a schools’ or colleges’ safeguarding approach.
- Extremism is the vocal or active opposition to our fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. This also includes calling for the death of members of the armed forces.
- Radicalisation refers to the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies associated with terrorist groups.
- Terrorism is an action that endangers or causes serious violence to a person/people; causes serious damage to property; or seriously interferes or disrupts an electronic system. The use or threat must be designed to influence the government or to intimidate the public and is made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause.
Full guidance document can be accessed here: Revised Prevent duty guidance: for England and Wales - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Updated April 2021
Training and resources
The department has published further advice for schools on the Prevent duty. The advice is intended to complement the Prevent guidance and signposts to other sources of advice and support.
- The Home Office has developed three e-learning modules:
- Educate Against Hate - Prevent Radicalisation & Extremism is a government website designed to support school teachers and leaders to help them safeguard their students from radicalisation and extremism. The platform provides free information and resources to help school staff identify and address the risks, as well as build resilience to radicalisation.
New PREVENT resources
LGfL and Counter Terrorism Policing have developed a new educational resource, 'Act Early Stories'. The toolkit is aimed at DSLs, PSHE/RSHE leads and youth leaders in secondary schools and out of school settings.
The activities and lessons aim to raise awareness of exploitation, spark discussion with young people around extremist narratives and promote critical thinking. This new resource hopes to help build staff confidence to promote dialogue to address this difficult subject with young people.
Based on real-life stories around radicalisation, the resource includes videos, ready to use session slides with activities and guidance notes so they can be used by experienced practitioners as well as those who may not have much knowledge of the issues raised. https://national.lgfl.net/digisafe/actearlystories
Referrals to help find solutions and work to support and protect vulnerable people.
Following assessment, many referrals to Prevent do not result in any further police action. All referrals to police are handled with sensitivity and in confidence. If a person is assessed as being a terrorism risk, they may be referred to Home Office’s Channel Programme and maybe given help from a mentor.
Referral should be made here: preventreferralsslough@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk | 01865 555618
Queries can be directed to:
Lubna Hussain lubna.husain@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk | 07973 203091
Ranjit Benning ranjit.benning@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk | 07970 145236