What is Prevent?

Prevent is the Government’s strategy to address terrorism. The main aim of Prevent is to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Prevent focuses on all forms of terrorist threats. e.g. international terrorism, far right extremists (among others).

The Government’s Prevent strategy can be found at the following address: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

How does the Prevent strategy apply to schools?

From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism. This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views.

The Prevent Duty is not just about discussing extremism, which may not be appropriate for younger children. However, it is about teaching children values such as tolerance and mutual respect. Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.

Three key themes

Local Authorities, The police and our partner organisations are working together to help strengthen and empower our communities to reject those who want to cause harm. We work together and focus on three key themes:

1. Safeguarding vulnerable individuals through the provision of advice and support and intervention projects.  Working closely with institutions such as universities, schools, prisons, charities and faith establishments. 

2. Challenging terrorist ideology by working closely with other local and national agencies, partners and our communities
3. The Prevent Engagement Team are a team of officers and police staff aiming to encourage discussion ensuring that terrorism is prevented from taking root in our communities. They support the wider engagement activities already taking place in schools, places of worship and community groups. 

Through this work they aim to strengthen communities in order to challenge the ideologies and messages of hate which lead to terrorism.

How you can help

It is important that we all work together, so that we can protect our communities. There are many ways you can help:

1. Get in touch with your local neighbourhood or Prevent team for advice and support, if you are worried about someone you know who you believe may be vulnerable to radicalisation
2. You can speak to your local officers or Prevent contact about helping run community events to bring people from different communities together
3. You can provide facilities that could help us and our partners hold community engagement events.

For High risk Prevent enquiries or emergencies call 999.

For low risk or non-emergencies speak to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, or Tel: 101 and ask for the local policing team