Prevent
The Prevent strategy is part of our overall counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST. The aim of the Prevent strategy is to reduce the threat to the UK from terrorism by stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. In the Act this has simply been expressed as the need to “prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.
Prevent strategy has three specific strategic objectives:
- respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it
- prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support
- work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to address.
DCC Schools Prevent Duty Risk Assessment
Terrorist groups often draw on extremist ideology, developed by extremist organisations. Some people who join terrorist groups have previously been members of extremist organisations and have been radicalised by them. The Government has defined extremism in the Prevent strategy as: “vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. We also include in our definition of extremism calls for the death of members of our armed forces”.
The Prevent strategy deals with all forms of terrorism and with non-violent extremism, which can create an atmosphere conducive to terrorism and can popularise views which terrorists then exploit. It also made clear that preventing people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism requires challenge to extremist ideas where they are used to legitimise terrorism and are shared by terrorist groups. And the strategy also means intervening to stop people moving from extremist groups into terrorist-related activity.
Prevent work is intended to deal with all kinds of terrorist threats to the UK. The most significant of these threats is currently from terrorist organisations in Syria and Iraq, and Al Qa’ida associated groups. But terrorists associated with the extreme right also pose a continued threat to our safety and security.
Islamist extremists regard Western intervention in Muslim-majority countries as a ‘war with Islam’, creating a narrative of ‘them’ and ‘us’. Their ideology includes the uncompromising belief that people cannot be both Muslim and British, and that Muslims living here should not participate in our democracy.
The white supremacist ideology of extreme right-wing groups has also provided both the inspiration and justification for people who have committed extreme right-wing terrorist acts.
The Government’s Prevent strategy can be found at the following address: Prevent Strategy
At Walworth Primary School, we have a duty to safeguard children and young people from radicalisation and extremism. We participate fully in work to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. We provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues, so they better understand how to protect themselves.
- Safeguarding vulnerable individuals through the provision of advice and support and intervention projects
- Challenging terrorist ideology by working closely with other local agencies, partners, and our communities
It is important that we all work together, so that we can protect our community. There are many ways as parents and carers 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.
Throughout the curriculum we will:
- Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity
- Challenging prejudices and racist comments
- Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as British values such as democracy
- Protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using software and filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.
- Promote British values and this will 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.
Please contact the school, should you have any further questions about the PREVENT Strategy.
If you are reporting a concern or an occurrence of extremism in education, give as much detail as possible in your answers.
In an emergency, including a threat to life, always call the police on 999.
If you believe you have information relating to terrorism, please call the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321.
If you have a safeguarding concern about a child, contact your local authority or council safeguarding team.
Key Contacts
Report Extremism in Education - Department of Education Counter Extremism Helpline 020073407264
Counter Terrorism Police - Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789321
