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Prevent

What is Prevent?

What is Prevent?

Prevent is part of the Government’s Counter Terrorism Strategy (CONTEST) and is aimed at safeguarding and supporting individuals who are vulnerable to radicalisation, to prevent them for becoming involved in terrorist activities or supporting terrorism.

An introduction to Prevent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otc2eaRY32s

We have seen a significant decline in Prevent referrals since the Covid19 restrictions have been put in place. This is primarily a result of schools and other statutory services such as social care and mental health provision being impacted, but it will also be partially down to the fact that most people’s attention has, understandably, been focussed on the pandemic.

Despite the reduction in referrals, we know that the threat is not going away. In fact, it is likely that the risk of radicalisation has increased for a small number of vulnerable people, as the pandemic is driving vulnerable individuals to spend more time online and is exacerbating grievances which make people more vulnerable to radicalisation.

With the removal of the safety net of schools, colleges etc, we need statutory partners, parents, friends and family to be aware of what young or vulnerable people in their care are looking at online - and most importantly what they can do to help.

Therefore, the Prevent Partnership in Manchester requests us all to be aware of the increased risk of radicalisation. The following link provides information about:

  • What is Prevent
  • Spotting the Signs
  • Staying Safe Online
  • Support
  • Resources

 

Prevent in Manchester

Manchester has been a Prevent priority area since 2008 and we have been working with colleagues from across the Community Safety Partnership to ensure that as a city we collectively:

  • Understand and respond to the risks of terrorism in the city by working closely with the North West Counter Terrorism Unit;
  • Safeguard those that are vulnerable to radicalisation
  • Mainstream Prevent into core business by supporting key services and institutions, delivering training and support to staff on Prevent and building capacity through our commissioning arrangements
  • Build capacity within the voluntary and community sector to recognise, understand and challenge those who might seek to create divisions within and between communities through the RADEQUAL Network (Link to page on Radequal)
  • Strengthen community resilience by supporting and empowering communities to come together and talk about controversial or difficult issues.
  • Enable communities to develop their own solutions and promote better alternatives.

Prevent in Manchester is all about early intervention and prevention so it is important that as a city we continue to strengthen the confidence and skills of our staff to work with communities on this agenda. This includes understanding community concerns, grievances and potential drivers that might lead to people engaging in extremist activities. We need to strengthen our understanding of and relationships with communities so that we can collectively deliver activities to support individuals who may be vulnerable to radicalisation and extremism.

 

What is Channel?

Channel is a multi-agency approach to identify and provide support to individuals who are at risk of being drawn into radicalisation. It focuses on all forms of extremism and adopts an early intervention and prevention approach.

Channel uses existing collaboration between local authorities, statutory partners (e.g. Adult and Children’s Services, Education, Health and offender management services), the police and the local community to:

  • identify individuals at risk of being drawn into terrorism
  • assess the nature and extent of that risk
  • develop a tailored support plan for the individuals concerned.

Channel is a voluntary process and individuals referred will need to give their consent before any support can be put in place.

Across Greater Manchester, Channel has been embedded into our existing Adults and Childrens safeguarding policies and procedures and is delivered in line with the principles of Working Together to Safeguard Children, the Care Act 2014 and Making Safeguarding Personal

The Home Office has issued the following guidance for partners on Channel requirements

Channel Duty Guidance

Are you concern about someone who is at risk of radicalisation?

If you have any concerns about someone and would like more advice you can contact:

Counter Terrorism Policing North West – 0161 856 6362

Local Authority Prevent team - prevent@manchester.gov.uk

Alternatively contact the police confidentially on the Anti-terrorist hotline 0800 789 321. Report your concerns to channel@gmp.police.uk

 

If you think a threat is imminent, please call the police on 999

Any information, advice or concern will be handled with sensitivity and where possible anonymity will be maintained.

 

What happens when you make a referral?

Counter Terrorism Policing North West will assess whether there are any Prevent related concerns.

At the same time the Local Authority will assess if there are any immediate safeguarding concerns. When Dovetail was implement in Greater Manchester the referral process was change to include the LA front door to embed this process within safeguarding and allow for other safeguarding concerns to be dealt with immediately without waiting for the outcome of the Police triage process.

There are three potential outcomes from submitted a referral:

  • Closed to Prevent – No Further action. The referral has been assessed and it deemed that the concerns don’t require any support from Prevent / Channel. This will then be signposted to an appropriate agency, this may be the referrer.
  • CTPNW will manage the concerns raised. The case will be managed by the Police as they feel it is not appropriate for multi-agency support and want to manage the case more closely.
  • A referral will be made to Channel via the GM Channel Team for multi agency support.

Who can make a referral?

Anyone can make a referral, not just professionals. Please note that you do not need the consent of the individual to make a Prevent referral, the individual will be asked to consent to Channel if they are assessed as needing Channel support.

If you are family member or a friend you may wish to look at the ACT Early Website

which is aimed at offering guidance to friends and family members who have a concern about someone being radicalised.

 

Making a Prevent Referral

You can make a referral to Prevent using the online form or alternatively you can download a copy of the form from the links below.

Make a referral (Link)

Online Training

Prevent: https://www.elearning.prevent.homeoffice.gov.uk/

Prevent referrals: https://www.elearning.prevent.homeoffice.gov.uk/preventreferrals Channel Awareness: https://www.elearning.prevent.homeoffice.gov.uk/channelawareness

Links

Prevent Duty

Counter Terrorism Strategy

Channel Duty Guidance

Prevent Referral Form for Manchester ACT Early Real Stories Lets Talk About it - Working Together to Prevent Terrorism Educate Against Hate

Responsible booking Guidance

 

 


Responsible Booking Guidance

Responsible Booking Guidance

Introduction