Introduction
Avon and Somerset Police have launched the Stop Terrorist and Extremist online Presence campaign in the form of the ‘Red Button’. The red button is on their homepage. It links to a feature article and signposts to the report terrorism page on the GOV.UK website
Prevent is one part of the United Kingdom’s counter-terrorism strategy (CONTEST) and aims to stop people from being exposed to extreme ideologies, or becoming involved in or supporting terrorist activity. It is an approach that involves many agencies and communities, to safeguard people who may be at risk of radicalisation.
The Prevent strategy covers all types of extremism, both domestic violent and non-violent extremism, including the extreme right wing, Islamist militantism and other causes.
Three national objectives of the Prevent strategy have been identified:
Objective 1: Respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it.
Objective 2: Prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support.
Objective 3: Work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to address.
Prevent and safeguarding in Somerset
The Government’s revised Prevent strategy was launched in July 2015. Its key objectives are to challenge the ideology that supports extremism and terrorism and those who promote it through safeguarding. It uses a multi-agency approach, similar to that used for dealing with safeguarding issues such as Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) to prevent vulnerable people from being drawn into extremism and terrorism.
This approach ensures that Prevent achieves its purpose of safeguarding vulnerable individuals who are at risk of radicalisation from extremist groups.
Our Prevent objectives - training
Workshop to raise the awareness of Prevent (WRAP) – Info about how to sign up
There is face-to-face training, so that everyone is aware of and understands the Prevent Duty and how it sits within national and local safeguarding processes.
Home Office Prevent e-learning
Our staff can go to The Learning Centre for Prevent and Channel Panel e-learning.
An award-wining counter terrorist training course is being made available to the public for the first time. The ACT awareness eLearning package has been opened up to anyone who wants to become a counter terrorist citizen, so they can learn how to spot the signs of suspicious behaviour and understand what to do in the event of a major incident.
The ACT campaign – the webpage has useful information and includes the Run Hide Tell video
Our Prevent objectives - advice and support
Have a clear understanding of the Prevent referral process. Provide advice and guidance on how to safeguard and prevent people from being drawn into extremism.
Ensure that partner agencies work together to provide vulnerable individuals support and advice if a concern is raised that the person may be or becoming radicalised into extremism. Assistance should then be provided to them with the necessary support structure.
Recognise and use early intervention strategies to guide an individual in a more positive direction.
Offer support to individuals, using the Channel Panel – which can include educational, employment and community interventions.
Let's Talk About It
This website is a tool for engaging with people from all communities. It is an initiative developed by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit Counter-Terrorism Policing, to provide practical help and guidance to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
The aim of the site is to give people a clear and better understanding of both Prevent and Channel, while providing signposting and support for people who are concerned that someone they know may be vulnerable to radicalisation.
The site also has useful information about how to spot the signs that someone may be being radicalised, and provides tips on how you can protect yourself.
Who to contact if you have a Prevent concern
1. To report a concern
Police Prevent Team
Phone 01278 647466 – Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm. For out of hours advice, phone 101
Email channelsw@avonandsomerset.pnn.police.uk
2. For advice, support and training enquiries
Public Health Specialist – Community Safety, Lucy Macready
Phone 07887 955 440
Email LMacready@somerset.gov.uk
3. For safeguarding support and advice
Customer Contact
Phone 0300 123 2224 – Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm
4. All other Prevent questions
Email Prevent@somerset.gov.uk
Report online terrorist material
Tackling extremist material is important to protect the public and prevent offences that incite or promote terrorism and extremism.
The internet is perhaps the most likely and most prominent delivery method exploited by extreme groups seeking to radicalise vulnerable people into pledging support by promoting views of extreme content, the reading of extremist publications, online speaking events and communication.
You can report online extremist and terrorist material on the Home Office website.
You can report:
- articles, images, speeches or videos that promote terrorism or encourage violence
- content encouraging people to commit acts of terrorism
- websites made by terrorist or extremist organisations
- videos of terrorist attacks
Prevent in the community
Safeguarding is the primary objective of the Prevent Duty in Somerset. If you have any concerns that someone in your community is vulnerable or susceptible to radicalisation by extremists, please contact the Police Prevent Referral team on 01179 455 536 or email channelsw@avonandsomerset.pnn.police.uk
To help the people in your community, early intervention through Prevent and Channel as a safeguarding strategy is the most effective, and this will support that person fully from radicalisation.
This leaflet is to make you aware of a potential risk to young or vulnerable people from extremism and terrorism. It has not been prompted by an incident at a school or in the community. The leaflet is to offer advice and reassurance. Somerset remains a low risk area for terrorism and a safe place to live. If you want to know more, please visit the websites listed in the leaflet.
More information
Act Early – a website designed to increase awareness of the signs of radicalisation, where to go for help and support, and to increase understanding and confidence in the referral process.
An award-wining counter terrorist training course is being made available to the public for the first time. The ACT awareness eLearning package has been opened up to anyone who wants to become a counter terrorist citizen, so they can learn how to spot the signs of suspicious behaviour and understand what to do in the event of a major incident.
The ACT campaign – the webpage has useful information and includes the Run Hide Tell video
Reporting online material promoting extremism and terrorism.
Documents
The Prevent Duty leaflet for professionals
Preventing radicalisation and extremism in Somerset – information for communities
Prevent National Referral Form
The Channel Panel and the Prevent referral process
The Prevent Duty is about safeguarding. It is a way to support vulnerable people who may be at risk of being radicalised.
How the referral system and the Channel Panel work
You can make a report to the Prevent Referral Team on 01179 455 536 or by emailing channelsw@avonandsomerset.pnn.police.uk.
This is then passed onto the Channel Police Practitioner. This role reviews if the individual is vulnerable.
A person can be considered vulnerable or susceptible to radicalisation if they:
- feel a sense of social isolation or expressions of an ‘us and them’
- exhibit social isolation – losing interest in activities they used to enjoy, distancing themselves from friends and social groups
- have low self-esteem
- are experiencing a personal crisis
- are individuals with feelings of unmet aspirations or a sense of injustice
- are being overly secretive about their online viewing
- are becoming more argumentative or domineering in their viewpoints, being quick to condemn those who disagree and ignoring views that contradict their own
- are downloading or promoting extremist content
- may be searching for answers to questions about identity, faith and belonging
- have a pre-existing conviction that their religion or culture is under threat
- have abnormal routines, travel patterns or aspirations
- have Special Educational Needs – social interaction, difficulties emphasising with others and being able to understanding the consequences of their actions, and being aware of the motivations of others
- have a need for adventure or excitement
- have a history of criminal behaviour
After this an assessment is made as to whether it should go to the Channel Panel.
Examples of assessment criteria points
- Is the vulnerable individual being drawn into extremism or terrorism?
- Should the individual be referred to a Channel support mechanism?
- Should the individual exit the process and be helped by other safeguarding processes?
In Somerset the Channel Panel is chaired by Somerset County Council, and a Channel Police Practitioner is also present. Depending on the case, senior statutory partners are invited, such as housing, mental health, community representatives, social care and education sector colleagues, to gather and discuss the individual’s safeguarding concerns, vulnerability and potential intervention.
In assessing the risk, consideration should be given to
- the risk the individual faces of being drawn into extremism or terrorism.
- the risk the individual poses to society
If I refer an individual to Prevent, will this be traceable through checks in the future?
The Prevent referral system does not criminalise people for holding extreme views. It does not result in the person referred having a criminal record through the Disclose and Barring Service (DBS) formerly known as the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB).
A crime will only be recorded if the individual has committed an actual crime that falls within the criminal justice system or under the Counter Terrorism Act. As an early intervention process, it operates as a safeguarding process to protect from radicalisation with appropriate support.
Prevent and freedom of speech
The Counter Terrorism and Security Act acknowledges that alongside the Prevent Duty ‘a specified authority must have particular regard to the duty to ensure freedom of speech.’
It is important, especially in educational establishments, that enough time is provided for discussion, debate and respectful exchange of views around Prevent and extremism.
Everyone is entitled to their own political view or opinion, but no one should enforce one view over that of others.
Prevent and equality and diversity
The Prevent Duty states that action taken under the duty ‘must not involve any covert activity against people or communities’ and therefore individuals are to have due regard, as identified under the Public Sector Equality Duty, to the need to
- eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation
- foster good relations between people who share differing views
The promotion of equality and diversity and British values is at the heart of the Prevent Duty. It should be demonstrated through all its practices in tackling any instances of discrimination and being alert to potential risks from radicalisation and extremism.