Anti-terrorism, Prevent and Channel
Prevent
Prevent is a strand of the Government’s Counter Terrorism Strategy CONTEST and is about working together to ‘prevent’ children, young people and adults from being drawn into extremist activity including acts of terrorism. It is about everyone taking responsibility and knowing what to do if they have concerns.
Who is Subject to the Prevent Duty?
Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 states: All schools, LAs and other specified authorities and institutions must have “due regard to prevent people from being drawn into extremism and terrorism.”
It should be seen as part of an institution’s wider safeguarding responsibilities.
This includes:
- Schools
- Higher and Further Education
- Local Authorities
- Police
- Prisons & Probation
- Health Services
What Do Prevent Offer?
If you are subject to the Prevent duty you are entitled to help and support if you have any concerns about those who are susceptible to being drawn into radicalisation or terrorism. You can also book free training for staff at your institution to help you meet your legal safeguarding responsibilities. To enquire about training please contact prevent@redbridge.gov.uk
Schools
Along with help and support and training staff Prevent offers sessions for children and young people from year 5 to year 13. These sessions are free and can be personalised as required.
Sessions currently on offer:
- Online Safety
- British Values
- Radicalisation and Extremism
To enquire about or to book training please contact prevent@redbridge.gov.uk
Act Early
The ACT Early campaign is already having a life-changing impact in getting help and advice to those who might be at risk of radicalisation. Since its launch in November 2020, the site has already received more than 25,000 individual visits and as a result the new national police Prevent advice line has been receiving calls every week from concerned family and friends, with specialist support being put in place where appropriate. The ACT Early website has two short films aimed at the general public, and concerned friends and family:
https://actearly.uk/support/reach-out-for-help/
https://actearly.uk/working-together/how-we-help/
It provides an introduction to Prevent and to the work of Prevent officers. By improving understanding of Prevent and explaining the way we work with partners, we hope more people will be encouraged and assured to seek help at an earlier stage where appropriate.
Channel
Like child protection, Channel is a multi-agency safeguarding programme run in Councils in England and Wales. It works to support vulnerable people from being drawn into terrorism and offers support such as
- mentoring
- counselling
- assistance with employment
Channel is about early intervention to protect those who are susceptible to being drawn into committing terrorist-related activity and addresses all types of extremism.
Participation in Channel is voluntary. It is up to an individual, or their parents for children aged 17 and under, to decide whether to take up the support it offers. Channel does not lead to a criminal record.
Further Information
More information on safeguarding young people from radicalisation including links to online resources and training can be found on the Redbridge Local Safeguarding Children Board website.
Information has also been produced by the NSPCC or can be found on the Educate Against Hate website.
Contact
Referrals are received from agencies such as schools and health services. For more information please contact the Prevent Team by emailing prevent@redbridge.gov.uk
If there is risk of immediate harm or danger then you should contact the police on 999 or the Police Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321
