Prevent Duty
Preventing Radicalisation
The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty on specified authorities, including local authorities and childcare, education and other children’s services providers, in the exercise of their functions, to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism (“the Prevent duty”). Young people can be exposed to extremist influences or prejudiced views, in particular those via the internet and other social media. Schools can help to protect children from extremist and violent views in the same ways that they help to safeguard children from child sexual exploitation, drugs, gang violence or alcohol.
The Prevent strategy aims to protect vulnerable people from being drawn into terrorism. 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 & extremist influences or prejudiced views. We recognise that as with other forms of safeguarding strategies, early intervention is always preferable. Our school is committed to working with other local partners, families and communities, and we will play a key role in ensuring young people and their communities are safe from the threat of terrorism.
We also recognise that our School has a duty of care to our pupils and staff which includes safeguarding them from the risk of being drawn into terrorism. Being drawn into terrorism includes not just violent extremism but also non-violent extremism, which can create an atmosphere conducive to terrorism and can popularise views which terrorists exploit. Prevent can work within both violent and non-violent extremism arenas and can include topics such as hate crime, racism, bullying, online safety and extreme political views.
Our School is committed to:
• Establishing a single point of contact in terms of safeguarding.
• Assessing the risk of students being drawn into terrorism.
• Developing an action plan to reduce the risk.
• Training staff to recognise radicalisation and extremism.
• Referring vulnerable people to Channel.
• Prohibiting extremist speakers and events.
• Managing access to extremist material- ICT filters
• Being confident about British Values
We recognise that some young people, who are vulnerable to extreme views, may find it difficult to develop a sense of self-worth and to view the world in a positive way. We also recognise that their behaviour may be challenging at times, and that some may cause offence or harm to others.
We will therefore always take a considered and sensitive approach in order that we can support all of our pupils by
• providing a safe environment for children and young people to learn and develop in our school setting, and
• identifying children and young people who are particularly vulnerable to extreme views / radicalisation and taking appropriate action in accordance with the schools Safeguarding procedures with the aim of making sure they are kept safe both at home and in our school setting.
• making appropriate referrals to the Local Authority for early intervention and support where necessary
• ensuring that staff member(s) or governor(s) responsible for safeguarding are kept fully aware of their responsibilities, by attending relevant training and briefings
• letting staff, parents and pupils know how to voice their concerns
• responding to any allegations appropriately in accordance with appropriate school policies and procedures
The school’s single point of contact for matters relating to the above is Mrs A. Martin – Deputy Principal/ Designated Safeguarding Lead
What is Channel?
Channel is an early intervention multi-agency panel designed to safeguard vulnerable individuals from being drawn into extremist or terrorist behaviour. Channel works in a similar way to existing multi-agency partnerships for vulnerable individuals. It is a voluntary process allowing the individual to withdraw from the programme at any time.
Who can make a referral?
Anyone can make a referral. Referrals have come from family members and a wide range of partners: social services, children and adult services, youth offending teams, health, police, education establishments, places of worship and community organisations. You do not need the consent of the subject to make a referral – consent will be sought by the Channel Team before being adopted by Channel.
Please click here for the link to make an online referral to Channel: Bury Channel Referral
As stated above, if you have a concern that regards a family member, you can refer them into Prevent. In addition to this, you may want to visit the website ACT Early – Prevent radicalisation
ACT Early – Prevent radicalisation which is aimed at family and friends of those who are worried about family members being radicalised.
As our school is in the Local Authority of Bury, you can find information about PREVENT and reporting on Bury Council’s website – please click here for more information: Bury Council PREVENT