Prevent

Tackling extremism and terrorism

For guidance in emergencies including a terrorist attack, you can find more information on the counter terrorism advice webpage.

Prevent is the safeguarding part of the National Counter Terrorism Strategy and aims to stop people being drawn into or supporting terrorism.

The strategy focuses on three key areas, which are to:

  • tackle the causes of radicalisation and respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism
  • safeguard and support those most at risk of radicalisation through early intervention, identifying them and offering support
  • enable those who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate

Some risks factors that somebody could be vulnerable and in need of Prevent support can be found below (please note this list is not exhaustive and is contextual). In the first instance, please contact the Sandwell Prevent team.

Risk Factors/underlying issues

CT/Extremism Vulnerability factors
  • Mental Health difficulties / learning difficulties
  • Elective Home Education (EHE)
  • Unsupervised / secretive access to internet
  • Issues in the home / family issues / Domestic Violence/Abuse
  • Social isolation
  • Lacking a stable life
  • Misplaced theological / religious understanding
  • Grievances or sense of injustice
  • Lack of belonging / self-identity
  • Low self esteem
  • Easily controlled or controlling of others
  • Express hatred to others from different groups
  • Lack of trust in authorities / anti-authority
  • Alcohol and / or drug issues
  • Not in education / unemployed

(although many susceptible individuals are in school or HE/FE education also)
  • Family/associates linked to extremism
  • Attend vulnerable locations permissive to extremist ideology
  • Express support for extremist ideology or extremist groups (including proscribed terrorist groups i.e. (not limited to) ISIS/IS or Right-Wing groups
  • Attended extremist protests or gatherings
  • Viewing extremist material online
  • Access to extremist literature
  • Express desire to travel to/return from theatres of war/conflict zones, i.e. (but not limited to) parts of Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Russia and Ukraine
  • Parts of the Sahel region of Africa with rebel militant AQ/IS affiliated networks
  • Concerning contact with others in vulnerable countries (as above)

(see FCO travel advice website for up to date guidancewww.gov.uk/foreign travel - advice)

Read more about the Prevent strategy

Training

We offer training to organisations and staff who engage with people who may be vulnerable to becoming involved in terrorism.

This training is open to Sandwell Council staff, community groups and other partner organisations in Sandwell (i.e. any educational setting, religious places, organisations that deal with vulnerable people and more)

To book this training, email Prevent_Inbox@sandwell.gov.uk

Support available

There is no single profile of a potential terrorist, but terrorist groups sometimes try to recruit those who are vulnerable and this can happen in person or over the internet.

Sandwell Council works in partnership with the police and other services to provide a multi-agency approach to supporting vulnerable people who may be at risk, before any crime has been committed.

This multi-agency approach is called Channel. It is a safeguarding process where professionals discuss the best way to support individuals, put plans in place and try to draw them away from extremism. This usually happens with the help of loved ones and support workers.

Reporting

If you or anyone else is in immediate danger, you must contact the police by calling 999.

If you have concerns that someone may be vulnerable to extremism, then please help them and report as follows:

To refer people under 18, please submit the national Prevent referral form to MASH Access_Team@sandwellchildrenstrust.org and CTU West Midlands Police, at the same time so any safeguarding concerns that are not Prevent related can be picked up by MASH.  There is no need to fill in a separate MARF form with a referral for under 18s.

For over 18s, please submit the national Prevent referral form to CTU West Midlands Police.

Download the National Prevent Referral form

Report Under 18s

Report 18 and over

Report anonymously

Sandwell Prevent referral process

You can see what happens you report a concern in our Prevent referral map.

Useful contacts

If you require further information on Prevent in Sandwell, or have concerns of a non-urgent nature, you can contact us by emailing Prevent_Inbox@sandwell.gov.uk

You can report suspected terrorism online or contact the confidential Anti-Terrorism hotline on 0800 789 321.

Useful links

Action Counters Terrorism – Counter Terrorism Police's online reporting website

ACT Early – Advice, support and guidance for safeguarding the vulnerable and preventing terrorism

Educate Against Hate – UK Government micro site about tackling extremism and hate

West Midlands Police guidance on radicalisation and terrorism

NSPCC - information pages about extremism

Childline – advice for children