The Prevent Strategy

Prevent is one of the four elements of CONTEST, the government’s counter-terrorism strategy. It aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. The Home Office works with local authorities and a wide range of government departments, and community organisations to deliver the Prevent Strategy.

The Prevent Strategy:

• responds to the ideological challenge we face from terrorism and aspects of extremism, and the threat we face from those who promote these views
• provides practical help to prevent individuals from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are given appropriate advice and support
• works with a wide range of institutions (including education, statutory services charities, online and health) where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to deal with

The strategy covers all forms of terrorism and extremism. You can read the Prevent Duty Guidance for England and Wales on GOV.UK.

The team delivers work including:

• training for frontline staff in recognising, referring and responding to radicalisation
• projects to build capacity, increase resilience and improve understanding of extremism and radicalisation with partners such as schools, colleges, frontline staff, community groups, venues and parents
• referral service for concerns, called Channel, which acts as an early intervention service to safeguard vulnerable individuals from radicalisation

For further information on Prevent, and the work done to safeguard people from being exploited by violent extremism, please contact: channel@croydon.gov.uk

Escalating concerns

If you believe that someone is vulnerable to being exploited or radicalised, please follow the established safeguarding procedures in your organisation to escalate concerns to the appropriate people who can refer concerns to Channel if appropriate. Alternatively, you can contact the Prevent Team directly. We are able to provide schools and colleges with advice and support; and if appropriate, we may consider a referral to Channel.

What is the Channel programme?

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 engage and withdraw from the programme at any time.

For Channel referrals or for more information, please contact:

Channel@croydon.gov.uk

Frequently asked questions

Who is Channel aimed at?

Channel is for individuals of any age who are at risk of exploitation by extremist or terrorist ideologues. Early intervention can prevent individuals being drawn into terrorist-related activity in a similar way to criminal activity such as drugs, knife or gang crime. Involvement in the Channel programme is both voluntary and confidential. Individuals may opt-out of the intervention process should they wish to; and if they do receive one, this will not appear on their criminal records.

How does Channel work?

The Channel Panel is chaired by the local authority and works with multi-agency partners to collectively assess the risk to an individual and decide whether an intervention is necessary. If a Channel intervention is required, the Panel works with local partners to develop an appropriate individualised support package. Partnership involvement ensures that those at risk have access to a wide range of support. The support package is monitored closely and reviewed regularly by the Channel Panel.

Who can make a referral?

Anyone can make a referral. Referrals have come from a wide range of partners: social services, children and adult services, health, police, education and youth justice teams.

Download referral form

What happens with the referral?

Each referral is screened for suitability via a preliminary assessment undertaken by the Police Channel Coordinator and the local authority. If suitable, the case is discussed with all relevant partners to decide if an intervention is necessary.

Will the individual be informed about the Channel referral?

If an individual is deemed to require a Channel intervention, then they must be told prior to receiving an intervention. The process will be carefully managed with the referring agency.

Who sits on the Channel Panel?

The Channel Panel is chaired and led by the local authority and includes Police, statutory partners and non-statutory partners, where appropriate. Lead safeguarding professionals will be invited on a case by case basis.

Who delivers Channel?

Channel interventions are delivered through local partners and specialist agencies. Support could include mainstream health, education, employment or housing services through to specialist mentoring and wider diversionary activities such as sporting activities.

For more information, download The Prevent Strategy and Channel guidance from GOV.UK (PDF, 463 KB)