Prevent Guidance

The Prevent Strategy, published by the Government in 2011 and refreshed in 2018, is part of our overall Counter-Terrorism Strategy, CONTEST. The aim of the Prevent Strategy is to reduce the threat to the UK from terrorism by stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

The 2018 Prevent Strategy has three specific strategic objectives:

• Tackle the causes of radicalisation and respond to the ideological challenges of terrorism;
• Safeguard and support those most at risk of radicalisation through early intervention, identifying them and offering support;
• Enable those who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate.

“Safeguarding vulnerable people from radicalisation is no different from safeguarding them from other forms of harm” – The Prevent Strategy.

Extremism: The vocal or active opposition to our fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. We also include in our definition of extremism calls for the death of members of our armed forces.

Terrorism: The use or threat of action, both in and outside of the UK, designed to influence any international government organisation or to intimidate the public. It must also be for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.

The Prevent Duty is concerned with all forms of terrorism and extremism. It also includes some forms of nonviolent extremism:

• Extreme Right Wing;
• Islamist;
• Extreme Left Wing;
• School Massacre;
• Involuntary Celibate (Incel).

From the 1st July 2015, under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, the Prevent Duty requires that, in the exercise of their functions, specified authorities have “due regard to the need to prevent people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism”.

This places a duty on:

• Schools;
• Registered Childcare Providers;
• Local Authorities; and
• Other specified institutions to prevent people being drawn into terrorism and extremism.

The Prevent duty sits alongside Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to safeguard children, young people and adults. The Children Act 2004 places duties on a range of organisations and individuals to ensure their functions (including any that are contracted out) to have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. It covers schools, colleges, universities, health, local authorities, police, and prisons.

Working Together to Safeguard Children is relevant; this sets out the legislative requirements and expectations in individual services to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Local authorities are required to have Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships (HSCP) and Safeguarding Adults Boards (HSAB) in their area, which provide strategic leadership.

It is essential that statutory partners ensure that children, young people and adults are protected from harm. Whilst the Channel provisions are aimed at preventing terrorism, the way in which Channel is delivered may often overlap with the implementation of the wider safeguarding duty, especially where vulnerabilities have been identified that require intervention from social care, or where the individual is already known to Children’s Services.

If a person, child or adult is at immediate risk, report this to the Police through 999 and follow the school’s child protection procedure where appropriate.

NOTICE - Are you worried that a child is at risk of extremist behaviour or radicalisation?

• Observe concern, listen to disclosure;
• Record concern on organisations safeguarding recording form;
• Talk with Prevent Designated Safeguarding Person in line with localised process.

CHECK - Speak with the child / young person to get a better understanding of what they are saying.

If appropriate check with parent unless it could put the child / young person at further risk of harm:

• Talk with Prevent Designated Safeguarding Person;
• Seek advice from your HCC Prevent Programme Manager at sophie.lawrence@hertfordshire.gov.uk | 07773094897.

SHARE - If Practitioner still has concerns, make referral:

• Complete Prevent Referral and send to Hertfordshire Prevent at prevent@herts.pnn.police.uk;
• Remember: consent is NOT needed when making Prevent referrals;
• Consent will be sort if concern is adopted by the Channel Panel;
• Update your organization's recording systems.

Click to view:

• Prevent National Referral Form;
• Prevent Safeguarding Children and Young People from Radicalisation;
• Prevent radicalisation in Hertfordshire | Hertfordshire County Council.

CONTEST 2023

Prevent Duty – Advice for Schools and Childcare Providers

Prevent in Education - Hertfordshire Grid for Learning (thegrid.org.uk)

Educate Against Hate

ACT Early

Home Office Prevent E-Learning

Home Office Channel E-Learning

Home Office Prevent Referral E-Learning

London Grid For Learning – Preventing Radicalisation in Schools

Education and Training Foundation – Prevent for Further Education and Training

HCC Prevent Programme Manager: sophie.lawrence@hertfordshire.gov.uk | 07773094897

Hertfordshire Prevent: prevent@herts.pnn.police.uk | 01438 735373

LADO: LADO.Referrals@hertfordshire.gov.uk

CPSLO: CPSLOadmin@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Anti-Terrorist Hotline (anonymous): 0800 789 321.