Prevent and radicalisation policy

Aims and scope

This policy applies to all relevant laws and regulations in regard to Prevent including the Prevent Duty guidance for further education in Institutions in England and Wales and in conjunction with The Counterterrorism and Security Act 2015, Keeping Children Safe in Education, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026, and the Equality Act 2010.

These guidance documents provide the framework to underpin and support our employees and Learners in recognising and dealing with extremist views and concerns of radicalisation.

The government’s counter-terrorism strategy CONTEST overall aim is to reduce the risk from Terrorism to the UK, its citizens, and interests overseas, so that people can go about their lives freely and with confidence. Prevent remains one of the key pillars of CONTEST alongside the three ‘P’ work strands:

Pursue: to stop terrorist attacks.
Protect: to strengthen our protection against a terrorist attack.
Prepare: to mitigate the impact of a terrorist attack.

The aim of this policy is to support employees and learners with understanding what Prevent is and how the duty can stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Waverley Training Services (WTS) are committed to ensuring that all Learners, employees, and visitors are safe. This policy will outline the processes in place and how to report any concerns surrounding Prevent.

The Prevent strategy has three main objectives:

To respond to the ideological challenges of radicalism, extremism, prevent and the threat that society faces from individuals and groups who promote such ideals.
Prevent people from being drawn into terrorism through the provision of relevant support and advice that adopts a rights-based early intervention approach.
Work with specified authorities, including ‘sectors and institutions’ to identify radicalisation and extremism in British society.

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide support, clarification and guidance on Prevent for all stakeholders in conjunction with relevant laws and regulations to which WTS understands its legal obligation to have due regard to the need of preventing people from being drawn into terrorism and are free from radicalisation.

Prevent is designed to support people at risk of joining extremist groups and carrying out terrorist activities. It aims for police and other organisations to build relations across the UK and requires faith leaders, teachers, doctors and alike to refer any suspicions about people to the local Prevent body to enable an intervention.

Principles of Prevent

WTS understands its legal responsibility and understands why it is vital to a thriving academic community to ensure that any changes to operational policies, guidelines, processes, systems or working practices, implemented by the setting to ensure Prevent compliance, align with one or more of the following core Prevent principles:

Safeguarding: preventing vulnerable individuals from being drawn into terrorism is a safeguarding issue. WTS policies and procedures are in place to help safeguard employees and Learners and should consider the Prevent requirements.
Employee awareness: employees should be made aware of the general requirements of Prevent but in ways that ensure they remain sensitive to the cultural, religious, and ethnic diversity of our community.
Senior accountability: senior management team will maintain a risk register and will monitor the institutional risk of Learners, employees, employers, parents, and carers being drawn into terrorism. A designated ‘Champion’ will be assigned to lead responsibility on this policy for all Prevent related policies and measures.
Celebrating diversity: the culturally diverse nature of WTS must be actively celebrated and promoted to counter the threat of radicalisation from external influences.
Multi-faith: the provision of adequate facilities to allow groups to observe their faith, coupled with effective chaplaincy arrangements, are essential to harmonious community relations and inter-faith dialogue are a crucial element of the WTS Prevent approach.
Information sharing: some internal and external information sharing will be necessary but only under appropriately controlled conditions. This does not amount to an agreement to share personal data, although it is acknowledged that should there be a concern for an employee or Learner, and it was identified that it deemed to be an elevated risk of significant harm then in the interests of Safeguarding, information would be shared with the relevant authority.
Academic freedom: the ability of employees or Learners to research, teach and debate any topic will not normally be filtered unless, on a case-by-case basis, a specific threat is identified or a clear Prevent requirement exists.
Free speech: policies and procedures relating to the management of events, speakers and the display of posters and other promotional material must balance the obligation to enable free speech with the requirements of Prevent subject to formalities, conditions, restrictions, or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society.
Social media: social media, whilst a medium for communication, social interaction, and debate, requires specific guidance and monitoring consistent with WTS free speech obligations. Social media is a platform by which vulnerable individuals are particularly susceptible to radicalisation.
Website monitoring and filtering: WTS will block access to specific websites, network resources and IP addresses that provide or facilitate access to extremism and other materials in relation to the Prevent duty. Employees and Learners wishing to view material on external websites whose access has been disabled by targeted filtering should refer to the Prevent lead who will be responsible for outlining if and how access can be granted.
Partnerships: WTS should work in partnership with statutory agencies, other educational establishments, local authorities, and other bodies to assess and respond to the risk of vulnerable children and adults being drawn into terrorism.

Main aim

The main aim of this policy is to ensure that all employees and learners remain engaged in their understanding of radicalisation and recognise that it could happen at any time. WTS will work collaboratively with external agencies and governing bodies to ensure that everyone is safe and free from harm.

All employees will participate in regular training as part of their professional development to support learners by:

Understanding what radicalisation and extremism is and why we need to remain vigilant in our roles at work.
All employees have read and understand this policy and accompanying policies knowing how to report a concern should one arise.
All Learners will understand what Prevent is and the dangers of radicalisation and terrorism and know how to identify and report concerns. This information forms part of the content of the curriculum we deliver to all learners.
Completing relevant and appropriate training and certified courses in the following but not limited to:
- Prevent Duty courses: Courses 1-3.
- ACT Action Counter Terrorism Awareness.
- ACT Action Counter Terrorism: Education and Learning.
- British Values.
- Radicalisation and Extremism.

Indicators

There are key indicators to look out for in identifying suspicious activity that you should be aware of and report. These examples include but are not exhaustive of:

Low self esteem.
Lack of self-identity.
Lack of belonging.
Mental health issues.
Drugs and alcohol.
Upheaval in the family home.
Have multiple forms of identification in different names.
Becoming withdrawn and not interested in their usual hobbies/ activities.
A change in behaviour, religion, or beliefs.
Refusal to provide any personal details.
Unusual holiday destinations, bordering conflict zones or unwilling to talk about holiday plans.
Accessing extremist content online or downloading propaganda activity.
Justifying the use of violence to solve societal issues.
Altering their style of dress or appearance to accord with an extremist group.
Being unwilling to engage with people who they see as different.
Using certain symbols associated with terrorist organisations.

Reporting

We believe that early intervention is imperative to ensuring that the people we work with who are vulnerable, are protected and employees must understand the process to refer, and report concerns about individuals and/or groups.

If you are suspicious of something that could identify as a terrorist threat, please call the Anti-Terrorism Hotline: 0800 789 321. This number is available 24/7.

A textphone service is available for people with speech or hearing difficulties on 0800 032 4539.

If there is an immediate danger such as suspicious behaviour, a package, or a vehicle, move away and call 999.

Referrals

WTS are committed to ensuring that we remain vigilant and recognise that it is important to be fully informed of any issues and concerns that affect the local area we work. We have a nominated champion to ensure that any information and updates to legislation or news is cascaded out to the team and shared with learners where appropriate.

We will support the Prevent Duty and play our part in Channel supporting external agencies when required.

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Krystel Rajewski

Email: safeguarding@wts.org.uk
Telephone: 07812 220811

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Charmaine Winter

Email: safeguarding@wts.org.uk
Telephone: 07812 220808