The Government’s revised Prevent strategy was launched in July 2015. The associated Prevent Duty last updated in 2021. 

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 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.

All ‘specified’ authorities under the Prevent Duty must ensure that appropriate frontline staff, including those of its contractors, have a good understanding of Prevent. They should be trained to recognise vulnerability to being drawn into terrorism and are aware of available programmes to deal with this issue.

To facilitate this new Prevent Duty training an e-learning programme has been launched where staff can learn about:

• the Prevent Duty
• different forms of extremism and terrorism
• the risk around radicalisation and your supportive role
• making a Prevent referral that is both informed and made with good intention
• the interventions and support available

The following courses are available on the GOV.UK website:

• Prevent awareness – this course has been refreshed and updated with new case studies to provide an overview of the Prevent programme and what to do if you spot a concerning behaviours
• Prevent referrals – this training shares best practice on how to articulate concerns about an individual and ensure they are robust and considered and aims to give them confidence in making a referral. You must complete the Prevent Awareness course before undertaking this module. The course is based on national information. In Somerset, there is a local referral process which links to existing and established safeguarding process
• Channel or Prevent Multi-Agency Panel (PMAP)  – this course is for anyone who may be asked to contribute to, sit on, or run a Channel panel. You must complete the Prevent Awareness and Referrals courses before undertaking this module
• Refresher awareness – this is a condensed version of the awareness course and is for anyone who has already completed the awareness course and would like a reminder of the key points

The Action Counters Terrorism 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.

Channel is a key element of the Prevent strategy and local authority Channel panels are a statutory requirement under the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015. Channel panel is a multi-agency approach to identify and provide support to individuals who are at risk of being drawn into terrorism, including people holding and expressing violent extremist views.

The aim of the programme is early intervention and diverting people away from potential risk. Channel involves agencies working together to give individuals access to services such as health and education, specialist mentoring and diversionary activities.

Channel provides early support for anyone who is vulnerable to being drawn into any form of terrorism or supporting terrorist organisations, regardless of age, faith, ethnicity, or background. Individuals can receive support before their vulnerabilities are exploited by those who want them to embrace terrorism, and before they become involved in terrorist-related activity. 

While it remains rare for children and young people to become involved in terrorist activity, young people from an early age can be exposed to terrorist and extremist influences or prejudiced views. As with other forms of safeguarding strategies, early intervention is always preferable.

The panel

Core members of the panel are:

• Channel Chair, North Somerset Council – Safer Communities Service Manager  
• Deputy Channel Chair, North Somerset Council – Violence Reduction and Interventions Manager
• Prevent Lead or deputy – Primary Care Safeguarding Team, NHS 
• Designated Nurse for Safeguarding Adults, Avon and Wiltshire Partnership Trust
• Designated Nurse for Safeguarding Children, Avon and Wiltshire Partnership Trust
• Head of Family Wellbeing and Front Door, North Somerset Children’s Services
• Team Manager, North Somerset Youth Justice Service
• Safeguarding Adults Manager, Adults Social Services, North Somerset Council
• Local Police Neighbourhood Inspector, Avon and Somerset Police
• Southwest Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit

Representatives from services or organisations will also be invited to attend meetings where they are relevant to individual cases. These include but are not limited to:

• social workers
• schools, further education colleges and universities
• youth offending services
• housing
• prisons
• probation
• intervention providers

Governance and accountability

The Channel panel is accountable to the North Somerset Community Safety Partnership. The North Somerset Community Safety Partnership is responsible for ensuring compliance with Prevent and Channel duties.

The Channel panel in its entirety holds responsibility for the terrorism-related vulnerabilities of a case, meaning the adequate provision and review of supportive interventions around the complex needs and causes of the terrorism-related concern.

Statutory partners are responsible for the safeguarding around an individual’s intrinsic and contextual vulnerabilities that can be exploited by others, or that may exacerbate the complex needs of an individual, to the extent that this individual may be drawn increasingly towards terrorism offending.

The police are responsible for the identification and mitigation of imminent risks of individuals mobilising towards any terrorism offences, and the desistance of such high-risk or criminal behaviours.

The risk relating to the individual’s terrorism vulnerability is held by the Channel panel. This involves ensuring the risk posed to the individual from being drawn into terrorism or from wider safeguarding harms is addressed and reduced.

For more information about Prevent in North Somerset contact our Safer Communities Prevent team.