County Durham Partnership

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Prevent Strategy: Countering Terrorism, Radicalisation and Violent Extremism

Prevent is the Government’s strategy to help local areas to understand the threat of terrorism.

The Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 placed Prevent on a statutory footing and local Authorities and their partners have a core role to play in countering terrorism at a local level and helping to safeguard individuals at risk of radicalisation.

Areas of work include:

  • preventing people being drawn into terrorism
  • supporting work to strengthen our protection against terrorist attacks and mitigate the impact of such an attack

Within County Durham, the Safe Durham Partnership prioritises work to prevent people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

Becoming radicalised can happen to anyone anywhere for numerous reasons, for example it might be triggered by a traumatic event, or a skewed ideology. It has a strong link to safeguarding because vulnerable adults and children can be susceptible to radicalisation and recruitment into terrorist organisations. No matter the reason, there may be warning signs that can help identify those people that may be at risk. If we can refer these individuals early enough into suitable interventions and support, we may be able to prevent devastating life changing incidents from occurring.

If you have a concern about anyone that may be susceptible to being drawn into terrorism or extremism you can refer them for support and intervention with the Counter Terrorism Police North East using the Durham Police: Prevent referral form.

Prevent referral process; County Durham Prevent Flowchart.pdf

A 30-minute Gov.uk: Prevent elearning package has been developed for organisations and individuals. The course provides information about the process of radicalisation, how someone might be vulnerable to radicalisation and how staff might discuss or report any concerns.

If your organisation works in County Durham and you would like more in depth training for your frontline staff that work directly with the public then please get in touch by emailing safedurhampartnership@durham.gov.uk

Channel is a multi-agency approach, led by local authorities and the police. It provides support to individuals identified as being at risk of being drawn into terrorist related activity. Channel seeks to:

  • safeguard individuals who might be vulnerable to being radicalised, so that they are not at risk of being drawn into terrorist related activity
  • ensure that individuals and communities have the ability to resist all forms of terrorism and violent extremist activity likely to lead to terrorism

The Safe Durham Partnership follows the recommendations within the Gov.uk: National Channel Duty Guidance to enable partners to ensure that children, young people and adults are protected from the harm of being drawn into terrorism.

If you rent out your property or part of it, you may be allowing extremists to have a platform to spread messages of hate and division. To avoid this, when you have concerns regarding a possible booking, we recommend following this guidance.

Venue Hire Guidance .pdf

Research has shown that people with neurodiversity are no more likely to commit a violent act in the name of a cause or belief than anyone else.

However, they can be more vulnerable to a whole range of safeguarding concerns. This includes people or groups who look to groom and recruit young people into extreme and potentially dangerous belief systems.

This page produced in collaboration with Darlington Borough Council will direct you to resources that you may find useful in understanding neurodivergence as well as teaching resources for schools through a secure portal. You can also find help and support if you need it.

Darlington Council: neurodivergence and radicalisation

You can use Gov.uk: make a complaint about Prevent to complain about how the Prevent duty has been applied, including any problems with Prevent training you have received.

The Standards and Compliance Unit (StaCU) is not able to respond to complaints related to Prevent policy, only to how it has been applied.

 

It is essential we work together to identify the threat and vulnerability from terrorism and extremism relating to terrorism in County Durham, making sure people know how to report suspicious incidents and how we help protect crowded places from, and respond to, a terrorist attack.

For more advice and training visit ProtectUK.