What is Prevent and Channel?
Prevent is one strand of the Governments' National Counter Terrorism Strategy (CONTEST) and is about stopping people becoming terrorists and supporting terrorism. It focuses on safeguarding and supporting those individuals who are susceptible to being drawn into terrorism.
Channel is a multi-agency, safeguarding programme run in every local authority in England and Wales. We work with a wide range of partners including Adults and Childrens Social Care, the NHS, education settings and South Yorkshire Police to facilitate this programme.
The programme aims 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.
It must be noted that participation in Channel is voluntary, and individuals (or their parents/carers for children aged under 18) must consent to the receiving of support and that participating in the Channel process does not lead to a criminal record.
Prevent
Prevent works in a similar way to programmes designed to safeguard people from gangs, drug abuse, and physical and sexual abuse.
To help we need to tackle the causes of radicalisation, in communities and online; continue to give effective support to those who are vulnerable to radicalisation; and to help people find a way out if they are already engaged in or supporters of terrorism.
Prevent will help 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 help, finding out who they are and offering support.
- Help those who have already engaged in terrorism to get out and rehabilitate.
Prevent duty
We have a duty under Section 26 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 to help to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. Other authorities who also have a duty include: police, schools, further and higher education, health, prisons and probation.
Responsibilities under the Prevent Duty include understanding why people may be susceptible to being drawn into terrorism, spotting the signs and knowing what to do to where there are concerns about an individual, and knowing how to refer people who there may be safeguarding concerns about. Read GOV.UK's Prevent duty guidance.
Channel and referrals
Channel is a multi-agency approach to safeguarding, supporting and protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults at risk of radicalisation, extremism or terrorist related activity.
Barnsley Channel Panel aims to:
- find individuals at risk of being drawn into extremism
- look at the nature and extent of the risk
- develop the most appropriate support plan for the people concerned. Read Barnsley Prevent and Channel Referral Guidance for more information about the Channel process and the support plans we can put in place
Prevent and channel training
We offer training to organisations, community groups, schools, colleges, front line staff who engage with children, young people and individuals or groups who may be susceptible to being radicalised or drawn into extremist narratives.
You can contact us on 07809 103453 or email prevent@barnsley.gov.uk to talk about your requirements and to book training.
ACT early
- If you're worried someone close to you is becoming radicalised, then 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.
- To find out more about how to help someone close to you, visit the ActEarly website.
Who to contact
- If you're worried about someone being drawn into terrorism, make contact with the South Yorkshire Police Prevent Team by emailing preventsouth@ctpne.police.uk or ringing 101. You can also call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline (can be anonymous) on 0800 789321.
- 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. Report terrorist material found online.
- The Standards and Compliance Unit (StaCU) makes sure 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. Make a complaint about Prevent.
Useful information
If you'd like to find out more about Prevent please visit:
If you feel like you have anything to report you can call the UK Anti-Terrorist Hotline Number on 0800 789 321.