What is the Prevent duty?
This is statutory guidance for England and Wales, issued on 7 September 2023 under Section 29 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015. It came into force on 31 December 2023, replacing the 2015 guidance which came into force in July 2015. The duty covers all types of extremism, whether political, religious or ideological.
Under the Act, schools and other authorities have a duty to “have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.
The objectives of Prevent are to:
- Tackle the ideological causes of terrorism
- Intervene early to support people susceptible to radicalisation
- Enable people who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate
What is the Prevent strategy?
Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.
The Prevent strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent Islamist groups and other causes.
How does the Prevent strategy apply to schools?
From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism.
This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from other dangers.
Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.
What does this mean in practice?
Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.
We protect pupils from the risk of radicalisation, as part of our wider safeguarding duties and duty to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils.
This includes:
- Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity
- Challenging prejudices and racist comments
- Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity
- Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils
- Promote the fundamental British values – of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs
- Make sure school is a safe space for pupils to discuss sensitive topics, including terrorism and extremism
- Have robust safeguarding procedures to identify children at risk
- Robust vetting of visitors who come into school to work with pupils
- Measures in place to protect pupils from harmful online content, including setting up appropriate filtering and monitoring systems
- Staff training to help identify pupils at risk, challenge extremist ideas, and know how to act if they have a concern