PREVENT

What is PREVENT

PREVENT is about safeguarding children, young people or adults who may be influenced into supporting terrorism or becoming involved in terrorism.

This grooming process could happen face-to-face or on-line. Prevent deals with all kinds of terrorist threats to the UK, including the threats from organisations such as far right extremist groups, ISIS, Daesh or Al Qa’ida associated groups, animal rights violent activity or any cause that encourages violence to achieve political change. PREVENT is part of the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy.

Revised Prevent duty guidance: for England and Wales

What to do if you are worried about a child

Share your concerns with your organisation’s Prevent or safeguarding lead.

You can report your concerns by phone to Rotherham Council (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub – MASH) 01709 336080 or by completing the Worried about a child form

If you see or hear anything that could be terrorist related you can report it to the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999

If a child is not in immediate danger but you believe a crime may have been committed, call the Police on 101

The Police Prevent team provide advice, and can be contacted on 101.

CHANNEL PROGRAMME

Channel is a confidential, voluntary, multi-agency safeguarding programme that provides early intervention to protect vulnerable children and adults who might be susceptible to being radicalised. If left unsupported, their vulnerabilities mean they could be at risk of becoming involved in terrorist-related activity. Channel is run in every local authority in England and Wales.

Anyone can make a referral to Channel via usual safeguarding pathways or by contacting the local police. It is not a criminal sanction and a referral will not affect a person’s criminal record.

The Channel panel is made up of representatives from different safeguarding areas including health, social care and the police. All referrals are carefully assessed. The panel will offer the individual support tailored to their needs. Support could include social care services, early help and family support, assistance with education or employment, health or mental health support and mentoring to provide vulnerable individuals with the skills to protect themselves from being radicalised or drawn into terrorism.

Examples of real stories of individuals who have received Channel support are published at www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/the-channel-programme