Prevent guidance and support
Information about Prevent duty, how to implement it and how to respond to extremism and radicalisation.
Prevent guidance and support
Prevent is part of the UK's Counter-Terrorism strategy (CONTEST). Its purpose is to safeguard and support vulnerable people to stop them from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It's also there to support rehabilitation and disengagement of those already involved in terrorism.
For more information visit Home Office Counter-Terrorism strategy (CONTEST).
Under Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, education settings must have 'due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism'. This is known as 'Prevent duty'.
Channel is a national programme providing early-stage support to people who are at risk of radicalisation, supporting terrorism or committing terrorist acts.
For more information, view the information below and visit the Home Office Channel and Prevent Multi-Agency Panel (PMAP) guidance.
Key Prevent definitions
Extremism is the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to:
- negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms or others; or
- undermine, overturn or replace the UK's system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; or
- intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2)
Radicalisation is the process of a person legitimising support for, or use of, terrorist violence.
Terrorism is an action or threat designed to influence the government or intimidate the public. Its purpose is to advance a political, religious or ideological cause.
Prevent guidance and resources
All designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) should be familiar with the following statutory guidance and resources:
- Prevent duty guidance: England and Wales (2023) - GOV.UK
- The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners vulnerable to radicalisation - GOV.UK
- The Prevent duty: an introduction for those with safeguarding responsibilities - GOV.UK
- Understanding and identifying radicalisation risk in your education setting - GOV.UK
- Managing risk of radicalisation in your education setting - GOV.UK
- Case studies - GOV.UK
- Prevent duty: risk assessment templates - GOV.UK
- Keeping children safe in education - GOV.UK
- Prevent duty risk assessment - early years (Essex) - Word 58KB)
Further useful guidance and resources for DSLs:
- Educate Against Hate - Prevent Radicalisation & Extremism
- ACT Early | Prevent radicalisation
- Trust Your Instincts and Report | Action Counters Terrorism
- Counter Terrorism Policing | Home
Prevent in Essex
The education lead for Prevent is Jo Barclay, Head of Education Safeguarding and Wellbeing.
A Prevent update, including the latest information about regional risks and concerns, is provided to early years settings at the termly safeguarding briefings.
The Essex Prevent Multi-Agency Group has strategic oversight of Prevent in Essex and provides direction and coordination.
The education lead for Prevent attends the Essex Prevent Multi-Agency Group to represent education.
Channel is a multi-agency group which meets monthly to:
- identify people at risk and consider whether to adopt them into Channel
- assess the nature and extent of that risk
- develop the most appropriate support plan for the person concerned
Respond to concerns
If settings have Prevent-related concerns, these should be discussed with the Eastern Region Counter-Terrorism Policing Team. The team will provide advice and guidance including about whether the setting should make a Prevent referral.
Telephone: 01245 452196
Email: prevent@essex.police.uk
Prevent concern
If settings have Prevent-related concerns and feel a child is at risk of (or subject to) harm because of these issues, follow the guidance on our Request support or report a concern about a child page.
Prevent referrals must be made using the Prevent national referral form (PDF, 179KB).
We have worked with Counter-Terrorism Policing to produce a Prevent referrals advice document and checklist (Word, 42KB).
For further support completing a Prevent referral form visit Making a referral to Prevent - GOV.UK.