Preventing terrorism
The Home Office states that the UK continues to face a threat from terrorism. One security concern is the potential for British citizens and residents to become radicalised. They may then commit acts of terrorism in the UK and overseas.
On this page:
Hackney Prevent
Hackney’s Prevent programme is a borough-wide initiative. It aims to support and divert vulnerable people away from the radicalisation process. It also aims to deter extremist groups from operating in the borough. The delivery of Prevent sits within the council’s statutory responsibility under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The Act requires Local Authorities to do all they reasonably can to prevent crime and disorder in their area.
The aim of the Prevent Strategy is to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Prevent tackles all forms of extremism, including both Islamist extremism and far-right threats.
Prevent has 3 key objectives:
- respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism
- support vulnerable people and prevent people from being drawn into terrorism
- work with key sectors and institutions to address the risks of radicalisation
Extremism and radicalisation in our community are very real threats. Being aware is the first step. You can help to reduce the threat from terrorism, radicalisation and extremism by:
- being vigilant – to find out what to look out for, visit Action Counters Terrorism (ACT)
- knowing what to report and reporting it
Identifying vulnerability to terrorism or extremism
Understanding vulnerability in the context of Prevent could be a result of a person’s personal circumstances, experiences or state of mind which may make them more susceptible to terrorist causes.
Terrorists and extremists will try and recruit vulnerable people in person or through the internet and social media. They will attempt to infiltrate vulnerable institutions to reach out to vulnerable people.
Pursuing terrorists
Other parts of the government’s counter-terrorism strategy concentrate on pursuing and disrupting terrorists. This is not the role of Prevent which operates in the pre-criminal space.
Counter Terrorism Hotline: 0800 789 321. Before you start, call 999 or the police anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321 to report an immediate threat.
Early intervention and support
We work closely with local police and statutory services. We deliver a multi-agency initiative known as Channel. The aim is to help vulnerable people at risk of radicalisation. Channel also offers guidance and advice to key agencies. Early identification is vital to safeguard vulnerable individuals and prevent potential criminal acts.
It remains rare for children and young people to become involved in terrorism. But, from an early age, they can experience exposure to terrorism and extremism or prejudice. As with other forms of safeguarding strategies, early intervention is always preferable.
Channel assesses referred individuals. If they are suitable for intervention, they’re invited to join a voluntary intervention process. Channel tailors the intervention to meet individual needs. It includes many activities such as mentoring, leadership skills, and other practical help.
Contact us for more information or to arrange Prevent training.