Prevent is the Government’s strategy to help local areas to understand the threat of terrorism.
What is included under this priority
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
Intervention and support to prevent radicalisation
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.
What you should do if you are concerned about someone
If you have a concern about an adult that may be vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism or extremism you can refer them for support and intervention with the Durham Constabulary Prevent Team by emailing specialbranch@durham.police.uk. For a child or young person call First Contact on 03000 267 979 or emailing firstcontact@durham.gov.uk
The chart below shows the Prevent referral process for a child (17 and under) or an adult (18+).
Co Durham Prevent Referral Route Flowchart (PDF)
Awareness training for organisations and individuals
A 30-minute Prevent elearning package has been developed for organisations and individuals by the Home Office. 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.
County Durham Channel Guidance
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 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.
- Channel Panel Terms of Reference (PDF)
- The Channel Panel Privacy Notice can be found on the council’s privacy notices webpage under ‘other council services’.
Protection against the possibility of attacks and mitigation of impacts
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.