Prevent is all about keeping people and communities safe from the threat of terrorism. Safeguarding vulnerable people from radicalisation is no different to providing safeguarding against other forms of harm.
Prevent is one of the four strands of the government’s counter-terrorism strategy (CONTEST) to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
Prevent is about safeguarding vulnerable individuals in the same way support is provided to those at risk of becoming involved in gangs, drugs, exploitation, or other forms of harm. Individuals vulnerable to being groomed into terrorism can also be offered support.
Prevent responds to all forms of extremism - full details of the Prevent Strategy can be found on the Home Office website.
At the heart of Prevent we want to keep vulnerable children and adults safe from extremist grooming and offer help early – before someone becomes radicalised. Furthermore, we work with people and groups before a crime has been committed and this work focuses on:
Radicalisation can happen both face to face or online. It is easier than ever to be groomed by terrorist recruiters on the internet and to find extremist materials.
Everyone is different, and there is no checklist that can tell us if someone is being radicalised or becoming involved in terrorism. But these common signs may mean someone is being radicalised:
If someone is at risk of radicalisation, they should be referred to Prevent’s support programme, Channel.
However, you can seek informal advice before making a referral, by contacting our safeguarding team, or speak to a teacher, healthcare provider or another trusted authority.
Contacting the authorities will not get the person into trouble if a criminal act has not been committed. The local authority or police can discuss concerns, suggest how they can best help and provide access to relevant support and advice.
A referral can come from anyone who is concerned about a person they know who may be at risk of radicalisation, whether a family member, friend, school leader, colleague or from a wide range of partners. Channel addresses all forms of terrorism, including Islamist, extreme right-wing, mixed and unclear ideologies, and others.
Channel in Bedfordshire is led by the local authority, where referrals to Channel are assessed by a multi-agency panel consisting of the local authority, Police, health and education professionals and other meet to discuss support options. These support options include a range of different interventions, addressing ideological, educational, vocational, mental health, and other vulnerabilities.
Channel is confidential and voluntary, and offers support including:
When someone makes a referral, lots of agencies work together to offer support where they consider it necessary and proportionate to do so. This involves a number of steps:
If you have any questions or concerns or you want to find out more how to help someone close to you can visit Act Early
If you are worried about someone you can call the national police Prevent advice line 0800 011 3764, in confidence, to share your concerns with our specially trained officers.
This advice line is available every day 9am to 5pm. Calls outside of these hours will be transferred to specialist Counter Terrorism officers.
For more information visit Bedfordshire Police website - Terrorism in the UK.
You can also call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321 to report anything. The advice line is designed for members of the public to use, especially friends and family, or those who work with vulnerable or young people in volunteering roles. Remember in an emergency always call 999.
Prevent relies on community support and information to identify and protect people. If you are concerned that a friend, neighbour or relative is at risk of being exploited or becoming involved in terrorism or extremist activity, you should inform your local authority or the police.
The NSPCC has a free 24-hour service for adults who need advice on how to talk to their children about issues related to radicalisation and terrorism. If you’re worried, you can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit the NSPCC website.
Act Early is dedicated to helping friends and family of potentially vulnerable individuals spot the signs. If you're worried about someone close to you, it's important that you act early and share any concerns in confidence - you won’t be wasting anyone’s time and you won’t ruin lives, but you might save them.
For more information about Prevent and Channel, check the following links: