Prevent is part of the government’s overall counter-terrorism strategy which is called CONTEST. The aim of Prevent is to reduce the threat from terrorism by stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
The Prevent strategy has three specific 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 they are given appropriate advice and support
- work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalization.
The two key terms here, extremism and radicalisation.
As school leaders, the government expects all schools, colleges and registered childcare providers to;
- establish or use existing mechanisms for understanding the risk of radicalization
- ensure staff understand the risk and build the capabilities to deal with it
- communicate and promote the importance of the duty
- ensure staff implement the duty effectively.
Hence, why I was keen to complete prevent training and this post was holding myself accountable. Why are schools positioned or charged to be a frontline prevention agent.
Many studies show that radicalisation often occurs as people search for identity, meaning and
community and this is why young people may be particularly vulnerable. Those who work directly with children and young people are in an ideal position to build their resilience to
radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values and challenging extremist views; Assemblies, citizenship and PSRE lessons are prime examples.
Vulnerability Assessment Framework
Professionals use a Vulnerability Assessment Framework to guide their decisions about whether an individual / pupils needs support to address their vulnerability to being drawn into terrorism. It sets out three dimensions:
- Engagement (psychological hooks) – susceptibilities, motivations and contextual influences that together can map an individual’s pathway into terrorism.
- Intent – the mind-set associated with a readiness to use violence and address what
the individual would do and to what end. - Capability to cause harm – knowledge, skills and competencies. Access to networks, funding or equipment. Criminal capability.
Furthermore, there is a need to understand and decode propaganda; an image of success, status and belonging and personal duty. There is a need to understand the role of social media in these communications and the facility for private and / or personalised communication.
What do you do if you have a concern.
All safeguarding policies should have clear procedures in place for protecting children at risk of
radicalisation. This is your first reference point, follow your normal safeguarding procedures and speak to your designated safeguarding lead. I was interested to learn that in “Prevent priority areas,” the local authority will have a Prevent lead who can also provide support. There is also a dedicated telephone hotline and email.
Following our WRAP training I have learnt that the Home Office Contest Strategy is define:
- Prevent– this session/ paper
- Pursue– Police, Special Branch
- Protect– counter terrorism agencies
- Prepare– Police, Fire, NHS etc.
That the process is:
- Prevent operates at the pre-criminal stage
- It seeks to challenge the methods used to recruit and indoctrinate young people through ideological pressures (and before an attack occurs)
- Referrals and cause for concerns are referred using the Academy’s existing yellow concern form
- Those vulnerable to Radicalisation and Extremism are then referred for additional support
- The Wiltshire County ‘Channel Panel’ reviews all concerns and uses the Notice, Check, Share method to assess risks and need for intervention/ follow up
- Wiltshire Police have a dedicated Prevent team of Special Branch officers whom we work with closely
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