No.10: Prevent
Contents
What is Prevent?
Prevent is part of the UK’s counter terrorism strategy, aimed at preventing people from becoming involved in terrorism or supporting terrorism in our communities.
Prevent is aimed at
- Tackling the causes of radicalisation
- Providing early intervention for those at risk of radicalisation (Channel)
- Providing rehabilitation (Desistence and Disengagement)
From 1 July 2015 all schools, registered early years childcare providers and registered later years childcare providers are subject to a duty to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. Protecting children from the risk of radicalisation should be seen as part of schools’ and childcare providers’ wider safeguarding duties.
Schools and childcare providers should also build pupils’ resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values enabling them to challenge extremist views. It is important to emphasise that the Prevent duty is not intended to stop pupils debating controversial issues. On the contrary, schools should provide a safe space in which children, young people and staff can understand the risks associated with terrorism and develop the knowledge and skills to be able to challenge extremist arguments.
Terminology
- Radicalisation: ‘the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and forms of extremism leading to terrorism.’
- Extremism: ‘Vocal or active opposition to fundamental British Values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.’
- Terrorism: Violence, property damage, endanger life and disrupt electronic systems. Designed to influence governments or intimidate the public often for the purpose to advance a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.
What are British values and why are they part of Prevent?
Schools are already expected to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils and, within this, fundamental British values. Aspects such as democracy, rule of law, tolerance and freedom of speech should be taught and explored with all ages of pupils. Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) can be an effective way of providing pupils with time to explore sensitive or controversial issues and equipping them with the knowledge and skills to understand and manage difficult situations.
What should school staff be trained to do?
As with all aspects of safeguarding, those working with children of all ages should receive regular (at least annually) training which enables all adults (including volunteers) to know the possible signs when a child or member of their family might be being drawn into terrorism. They should also be made aware that some groups of children such as those on the Autistic spectrum are more vulnerable to radicalisation or grooming.
Examples of these signs and symptoms might be:
- Changes in friendship groups, often older persons or groups of adults
- A lack of empathy for the views or beliefs of others
- A level of understanding or expressed views that are beyond the norm for their age.
- Changes in clothing or other physical changes suggesting a concern such as symbols or badges
- Secretive and extensive use of the internet, often seen through tiredness at school
- Viewing of material linked to extreme groups and organisations
- A willingness to share extreme views with peers or staff
- Irregular attendance at school or known to go missing from home
- Wider school work expresses views such as in written work or art
- Gifts (including mobile devices) or unexplained sums of money
- Withdrawn from longstanding friendships or groups such as sports teams
Concerns should be shared with the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) as per the school’s safeguarding concerns systems.
Assessing your Prevent capability
Settings may want to consider completing the Prevent Duty self-assessment tool for schools. The tool is not a comprehensive checklist and does not replace the need for settings to create their own Prevent risk assessment or action plan. It should be used to assess the impact and effectiveness of its efforts to meet the requirements of the Prevent Duty. The assessment tool gathers information from pupils, staff and parents and covers 7 distinct areas in settings.
- Leadership and management
- Risk assessments
- Working in partnership
- Training
- Online safety
- Safeguarding school premises
- Building childrens’ resilience to radicalisation
DSLs may also want to review the non-statutory information (see link below) to develop and assess the support provided for those learners vulnerable to radicalisation.
The new national Prevent referral form
A national referral form has been introduced to ensure more comprehensive and consistent information is captured from those making referrals.
A copy of the form is available on the Devon and Cornwall Police internet site (see link) Prevent: Reporting and preventing radicalisation, terrorism and extremism | Devon and Cornwall Police (devon-cornwall.police.uk). It can then be emailed to the email address created especially for referrals: prevent.referrals@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
It is important that the information provided in the referral form contains as much detail as possible. Please ensure that basic information such as the name, age and date of birth of the person being referred is correct. Please try to include as many details as possible, the concerns, how long you have had them, any planned travel etc. If the referral is about a child or young person, please include on the form whether you have discussed your concerns with their parents/carers and what their views are.
Further information
Prevent Duty: The Prevent Duty – advice for schools and carers
Prevent Duty self assessment tool for schools: Prevent duty self-assessment tool for schools – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Gov.UK Safeguarding learners vulnerable to radicalisation: The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners vulnerable to radicalisation – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Gov.UK, Prevent Factsheet: FACTSHEET: Prevent and Channel – 2021 – Home Office in the media (blog.gov.uk)
Gov.UK, get help if you are worried someone is being radicalized: Get help for radicalisation concerns – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Local Police Prevent team (Devon) if unsure a concern is Prevent relevant or if seeking further advice and signposting contact the local police prevent team on: 01392 225130 facPrevent@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
Devon and Cornwall Police website (Prevent) https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/advice/your-community/prevent-reporting-and-preventing-radicalisation-terrorism-and-extremism/
Educate against the Hate (Government advice and trusted resources to safeguard students from radicalisation, build resilience to all types of extremism and promote shared values.) https://educateagainsthate.com/