PREVENT STRATEGY 

What is Prevent Strategy?

Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.

The Prevent strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent Islamist groups and other causes.

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

Prevent Team

The Prevent Engagement Team of officers and police staff aim 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. 

Three key themes

The police, Local Authorities, 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:

• Safeguarding vulnerable individuals through the provision of advice and support and intervention projects.

• Working closely with institutions such as Universities, Schools, Prisons, Health, Charities and faith establishments.

• Challenging terrorist ideology by working closely with other local and national agencies, partners and our communities

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 same way we protect them from drugs or violence.

Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.

What does this mean in practice?

Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.

These include:

• Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity

• Challenging prejudices and racist comments

• Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity

• Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as British values such as democracy.

We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they cannot access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.

Different Schools will carry out the Prevent duty in different ways, depending on the age of the children and the needs of the community.

Key Terms

• Extremism – vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values such as democracy, the rule of law and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs
• Ideology – a set of beliefs
• Terrorism – a violent action against people or property, designed to create fear and advance a political, religious or ideological cause.
• Radicalisation – the process by which a person comes to support extremism and terrorism.

Frequently asked questions

How you I help?

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

• You can 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

• You can speak to your local officers or Prevent contact about helping run community events to bring people from different communities together

• You can provide facilities that could help us and our partners hold community engagement events
   

How does prevent relate to British values?

Schools have been requires to promote British Values since 2014, and this will continue to be part of our response to the Prevent Strategy

British Values include:

• Democracy

• The rule of law

• Individual liberty and mutual respect

• Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

Isn’t my child too young to learn about extremism?

The Prevent strategy is not just about discussing extremism itself, which may not be appropriate for younger children. It is also about teaching children values such as tolerance and mutual respect.

The school will make sure any discussions are suitable for the age and maturity of the children involved.

Is extremism really a risk in our area?

Extremism can take many forms, including political religious and misogynistic extremism. Some of this may be a bigger threat in our area than others.

We will give children the skills to protect them from any extremist views they may encounter, now or later in their lives.

Where to go for more information

Contact the school if you have any questions or concerns about the Prevent strategy and what it means for your child.

See our policies – you will find more details about radicalisation in our safeguarding policy which is available on the school website under policies.

External sources

The following sources may also be useful for further information:

• Prevent duty guidance for England and Wales, HM government
  • https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance

• Frequently asked questions – Prevent for School
  • http://www.preventforschools.org

• What is Prevent? Let’s talk about it.
  • http://www.ltai.info/