From July 2015, the Counter Terrorism and Security Act (2015) placed a statutory duty on specific authorities including: local authorities, police, education and health to have 'due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism' and to address this with a proportionate response.
The Prevent strategy (2011) is one element of the UK's national counter-terrorism strategy, Contest.
It has three key objectives:
- To 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 radicalisation that we need to address
Prevent is about safeguarding our communities from the threat of terrorism by stopping people from supporting it or becoming terrorists themselves.
Anyone can make a Prevent referral if they have concerns about someone. When a referral is made, Prevent officers gather information to look at the context surrounding concerning behaviour changes and conduct a vulnerability assessment. In most cases, referrals are signposted to other services, but if it is recognised that there is an ideology present, capability or intent to act, then they may be put forward for support from Channel.
There are many factors that could make someone vulnerable to radicalisation including:
- Feelings of grievance and injustice
- Being at a transitional time of life
- Experiencing a traumatic event
- A desire for political or moral change
- Struggling with a sense of identity, meaning and belonging or questioning their place in society
- A desire for status
- Being influenced or controlled by a group
- Experiencing racism or discrimination
Wiltshire Council
Prevent Duty Guidance [391.66KB]