Advice for front line workers on Prevent

Recognising and referring individuals who show signs of vulnerability is not about criminal prosecutions, it’s about supporting them away from possibly committing a crime or hurting themselves or others.

This guidance is designed to provide you with a better understanding of the Prevent strategy and explain how to make a referral.

Prevent is part of the Government’s wider counterterrorism strategy known as CONTEST. It aims to reduce the risk to the UK and its interests overseas from terrorism and is made up of four key areas.

• protect: to strengthen our protection against a terrorist attack

• prepare: to mitigate the impact of a terrorist attack

• pursue: to stop terrorist attacks

• prevent: to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

Prevent is overseen by the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism (OSCT). For further details about Prevent, go to the Government website and search for ‘Prevent strategy’.

Safeguarding

One option available for identified individuals is the Channel programme, a multi-agency support panel. Following a vulnerability assessment, a package could be offered which will be tailored to meet an individual’s needs. Interventions might include mentoring, life skills training or access to advice and guidance. Occasionally this advice might be of a theological nature. It is important to point out that:

• the scheme is voluntary

• it operates purely in the ‘pre-criminal’ space

• participation on Channel will not be recorded on individuals’ permanent records.