Preventing terrorism

Prevent is a part of the Government’s national counter-terrorism strategy, which aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism, before they are drawn into criminality.

It is designed to tackle all forms of terrorism regardless of ideology or cause: online extremism and radicalisation can impact all our neighbourhoods and communities.

We are a key local partner in helping to safeguard and support individuals at risk of being drawn into terrorism.

Work around Prevent is co-ordinated by the Council’s Community Safety and Safer Neighbourhoods Service, and we have adopted an open and transparent local approach to Prevent.

If you want to access training or find out more information, please contact us.

The Channel programme

Channel is a multi-agency, safeguarding programme run in every local authority in England and Wales. We work with a range of partners including Social Care, the NHS, education settings and South Yorkshire Police.

It works to protect adults, children and young people from being drawn into terrorism and provides a range of tailored support such as mentoring, counselling and help with education and employment.

Participation in Channel is voluntary, and individuals (or their parents / carers for children aged under 18) must consent to receiving support.

Participating in Channel does not lead to a criminal record.

The local Channel Panel is chaired by Council managers from Children’s and Adult’s Social Care and links closely to our other safeguarding processes.

Act early

If you are worried someone close to you is becoming radicalised act early and seek help. The sooner you reach out, the quicker the person you care about can be protected from being groomed and exploited by extremists.

Friends and family are best placed to spot the signs, so trust your instincts and share your concerns in confidence. They can help if you act early. You won't be wasting police time, and you won’t ruin lives, but you might save them.

Who to contact

If you're worried about someone being drawn into terrorism, you can:

• follow the guidance on the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) website
• contact the local Police Prevent Team by ringing 101
• call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline (reports can be anonymous) on 0800 789 321

In an emergency where your own or others' safety is at risk, call 999.

You can also report any illegal terrorist information, pictures or videos you’ve found on the internet through the government's website.

The Standards and Compliance Unit (StaCU) ensures that anyone applying the Prevent duty, or providing training on Prevent, follows the right process and standards. You can make a complaint or raise a concern about how the Prevent duty has been applied on the government's website.