Prevent duty guidance: Guidance for specified authorities in England and Wales

Introduction

The aim of the UK's counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST, is to minimise the risk of terrorism to the country, its citizens, and its interests abroad, allowing people to live freely and confidently. Prevent is a central component of CONTEST, alongside three other key areas: Pursue (stopping terrorist attacks), Protect (strengthening defenses against attacks), and Prepare (mitigating the impact of attacks).

Who I the Guidance For?

This statutory guidance is designed for:

·      Senior leadership teams in specified authorities listed in Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the CTSA 2015.

·      Individuals with dedicated Prevent and/or safeguarding responsibilities.

·      Personnel in specified authorities responsible for resource allocation, funding, and external partnerships.

·      Frontline workers likely to interact with individuals vulnerable to radicalisation. 

 

The Prevent Duty:

The aim of Prevent is twofold: to prevent individuals from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism, and to support the rehabilitation and disengagement of those already involved in terrorism.

 

Threat and Risk

Prevent addresses various terrorist threats to the UK, focusing on tackling the ideological roots of terrorism. The ideological aspect distinguishes terrorism from other forms of violence. Prevent primarily targets Islamist and Extreme Right-Wing ideologies, which are both resilient and capable of motivating terrorism. Other ideologies, although less prominent, still possess the potential to inspire and justify terrorist acts.

 

In the UK, the primary domestic terrorist threat stems from Islamist terrorism, which aims to establish a strict interpretation of Islamic society through violence. This ideology often seeks to create a global Islamic caliphate governed by Sharia law, drawing inspiration from thinkers like Sayyid Qutb and Abdallah Assam. Many adherents view violence, or "jihad," as both a strategic necessity and a religious obligation to achieve their goals.

 

Extreme Right-Wing Terrorism involves individuals or groups using terrorist violence to advance ideologies such as Cultural Nationalism, White Nationalism, and White Supremacism. Unlike Islamist terrorist groups, Extreme Right-Wing terrorists often operate within informal online communities rather than formal organisations with leadership structures and territorial goals. These individuals and groups may adopt ideas from multiple ideological categories.

 

Early Intervention – referral to Prevent

Prevent's second objective is early intervention to prevent individuals from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. This involves delivering tailored interventions for those vulnerable to radicalisation. Prevent referrals typically originate from individuals who interact with those showing signs of susceptibility to radicalisation. There's no uniform model for a person's radicalisation journey or a singular profile of a radicalized individual. Frontline professionals should assess whether they perceive the person in question to be on a trajectory that might lead to terrorism when deciding whether to make a referral.

 

Compliance with the Prevent Duty

Compliance with the Prevent duty varies across specified authorities due to their distinct functions, structures, and mandates. Specified authorities should establish and sustain effective leadership and partnerships to ensure they fulfil their duty to prevent individuals from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

 

Reducing Permissive Environments:

Prevent aims to address the ideological roots of terrorism by minimising exposure to radicalising narratives, both online and offline, and fostering an environment where such ideologies are challenged and prevented from spreading.

 

Local Authorities:

Local authorities play a crucial role in Prevent work due to their extensive responsibilities and democratic accountability. They collaborate with local partners to safeguard the public, prevent crime, and foster cohesive communities.

 

Education: 

Children and young people remain a significant portion of Channel cases, with increasing concerns about learners being arrested for terrorism-related offenses. Educators, having regular interactions with learners, are uniquely positioned to identify concerning behavioural changes indicating susceptibility to radicalisation. Settings should be vigilant not only to violent extremism but also to non-violent extremism, including divisive or intolerant narratives linked to terrorism. Resources like Educate Against Hate and GOV.UK Prevent duty training offer additional information on extremist narratives.

 

Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) or Prevent leads in settings should undergo comprehensive training, including on extremist and terrorist ideologies, making referrals, and collaborating with Channel panels. This training should be updated at least every two years to enable the lead to support other staff on Prevent matters and stay updated on relevant issues. This includes being informed about trends in Prevent referral statistics, local or regional incidents, and new resources and training materials. These requirements align with those outlined in 'Keeping Children Safe in Education.'

 

Healthcare:

Healthcare professionals play a vital role in Prevent as they encounter individuals who may be susceptible to radicalisation. This includes addressing not only violent extremism but also non-violent extremism, including narratives that could potentially lead individuals to participate in or support terrorism.

 

Police: 

The police play a crucial role in Prevent work due to their unique position in addressing terrorism. They possess information vital for assessing the risk of radicalisation and disrupting those involved in radicalising others. Additionally, they collaborate with community organisations and other specified authorities in Prevent efforts.

 

Criminal Justice Agencies

As an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is tasked with safeguarding the public and decreasing reoffending by providing prison and probation services. HMPPS manages individuals serving prison sentences, in custody awaiting trial, or under probation supervision, whether through community sentences or conditions upon release from custody.

 

Training:

It's crucial for all organisations to understand why radicalisation is relevant to their setting and how it might manifest. They should ensure that appropriate staff undergo training on radicalisation to demonstrate awareness and comprehension of the risk. By understanding the risk and knowing how to raise concerns, those under the Prevent duty can help challenge extremist views when necessary, provide suitable support, and divert individuals away from terrorism.

 

Risk Assessments:

Organisations should not only ensure staff receive proper training but also understand their specific risks concerning radicalisation. Conducting a risk assessment allows for comprehension of national, regional, and local risks, aiding in tailoring approaches and managing risks accordingly. Partner engagement helps in comprehending threats and risks. It may be suitable to include radicalisation risks within broader organisational risk assessments.

 

Resources:

Prevent Duty Guidance: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65e5a5bd3f69457ff1035fe2/14.258_HO_Prevent+Duty+Guidance_v5d_Final_Web_1_.pdf

LGFL - https://lgfl.net/safeguarding/kcsie/web-filtering

GOV.UK - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-duty-training

COUNTER EXTREAMISM - https://counterextremism.lgfl.org.uk/

LGFL LEARNING - https://lgfl.net/learning-resources/grid

EDUCATE AGAINST HATE - https://www.educateagainsthate.com/blog/posts/how-to-speak-about-the-news-ongoing-conflicts-and-hold-discussions-on-difficult-topics-with-students/