Prevent Policy
Our aim
The aim of this policy is to outline our approach to supporting the national ‘Prevent’ Agenda linked to the safeguarding of our learners and staff. This policy is written referencing the Prevent Duty which is contained within Section 26 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015. This Act imposes a duty on Smart Dental Academy as an independent training provider to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. This 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.
Our Objectives
The Prevent Duty
Prevent is one of the four elements of ‘CONTEST’, the government’s counter-terrorism strategy. These four elements are:
It aims to stop people becoming involved in violent extremism.
The Prevent strategy responds to the ideological challenge of terrorism and aspects of extremism, and the threat faced from those who promote these views, providing practical help to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are given appropriate advice and support, working with a wide range of sectors (including education) where there are risks of radicalisation.
The Prevent Duty incorporates the responsibility to promote Fundamental British Values through our practices and the input of this into our classroom delivery. These values are defined as:-
The Prevent Duty covers all forms of radicalisation, including risk from extremist faith groups, far right extremism and some aspects of non-violent extremism.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance.
Current Academy practice which contributes to Prevent are our Safeguarding Policy which references the Prevent agenda to ensure it is within the protective work we do to safeguard our learners, visitors and members of staff.
Staff Training
Training sessions on specific and wider Prevent Agenda issues maximize the opportunities for expert input to develop staff awareness and this is carried out yearly by completing an online course.
Building Resilience through Teaching and Learning
Our work to promote Equality and Diversity within the academy, through our classroom delivery incorporates British Values, contributing to good community relations and reducing the risk of radicalisation.
We aim to provide a curriculum which promotes knowledge, skills and understanding to build the resilience of learners, by undermining extremist ideology and enabling learners to acquire a broad knowledge of and respect for public institutions.
This will be achieved through:
Recognising changes in behaviour
Possible warning signs may include:
Reporting Concerns and Referrals
A Prevent referral is a supportive activity which initially involves identification of any student or member of staff at risk of radicalisation and this referral is made via Nickie Thompson (Program Director) Safeguarding Lead in accordance with our safeguarding policy. There are policies linked to this including:
Once we have investigated concerns, the Safeguarding Lead will determine the most appropriate course of action and may refer to Channel.
What is Channel?
Channel is a programme that provides support to people who are identified as being vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism or extremism. It is a supportive approach and operates in the pre- criminal space. The programme uses a multi-agency approach to protect vulnerable people by:
Appendix 1 Terms from the Prevent Duty Guidance
‘Having due regard’
Means that the authorities should place an appropriate amount of weight on the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism when they consider all the other factors relevant to how they carry out their usual functions.
‘Extremism’
Is defined in the 2011 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.
‘Interventions’
Are projects intended to divert people who are being drawn into terrorist activity. Interventions can include mentoring, counselling, theological support, encouraging civic engagement, developing support networks (family and peer structures) or providing mainstream services (education, employment, health, finance or housing).
‘Non-violent extremism’
Is extremism, as defined above, which is not accompanied by violence.
‘Prevention’
Means reducing or eliminating the risk of individuals becoming involved in terrorism. Prevent includes but is not confined to the identification and referral of those at risk of being drawn into terrorism into appropriate interventions. These interventions aim to divert vulnerable people from radicalisation.
‘Radicalisation’
Refers to the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies associated with terrorist groups.
‘Safeguarding’
Is the process of protecting vulnerable people, whether from crime, other forms of abuse or from being drawn into terrorist-related activity?
The current UK definition of ‘terrorism’ is given in the Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT 2000). This defines terrorism as an action that endangers or causes serious violence to a person/people; causes serious damage to property; or seriously interferes or disrupts an electronic system. The use or threat must be designed to influence the government or to intimidate the public and is made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause.
‘Terrorist-related offences’
Are those (such as murder) which are not offences in terrorist legislation, but which are judged to be committed in relation to terrorism.
‘Vulnerability’
Describes the condition of being capable of being injured; difficult to defend; open to moral or ideological attack. Within Prevent, the word describes factors and characteristics associated with being susceptible to radicalisation.
Prevent Referrals
Individuals who are vulnerable to radicalisation will be offered targeted and appropriate voluntary support by the multi-agency partnerships.
For concerns related to counter-terrorism and radicalisation, this would follow the normal safeguarding procedures and be discussed with the safeguarding lead.
Referrals will be triaged by a designated safeguarding lead (Nickie Thompson), adult and children’s social services teams, the local Prevent contact, or Prevent police. These partners will then provide advice or forward the referral on to Channel as appropriate.
If it’s suspected that a person is about to put themselves in danger by travelling to join a proscribed organisation, or appears to be involved in planning to carry out a criminal offence, this overthrows all local referral processes and the police should be immediately informed.
