Skip to main content

What is Prevent?

Prevent is about Safeguarding and supporting those who are vulnerable to radicalisation. It is one of the four elements of CONTEST, the governments counter terrorism strategy. It aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

Prevent responds to the ideological challenge that we face from terrorism and aspects of extremism, and the threats that we face from those who promote these views. It provides practical help to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensures that they are given appropriate advice and support. Prevent works with a wide range of sectors (including education, criminal justice, faith, charities and health) where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to deal with.

The Home Office works with local authorities, government departments and community organisations to deliver the Prevent Strategy. The police also play a significant role in Prevent, the same way that they do when taking a preventative approach to other crimes.

Prevent uses a range of measures to challenge extremism including:

  • Supporting those who are at risk of being drawn into terrorist or extremist activity through the Channel process
  • Working with and supporting community groups who provide services to vulnerable people and supporting schools, local industry and other agencies through engagement, advice and training
  • Working with faith groups and institutions to assist them in providing support for people who may be vulnerable.

At the heart of Prevent is safeguarding children and adults and providing early intervention to protect and divert people away from being drawn into terrorist activity.

If you are not sure whether you should make a referral you can speak to the Prevent team or call the GMP Prevent Team on 0161 856 6362. There are no daft questions and we are happy to talk things through with you. 

Or you can fill in the form and send it to channel.project@gmp.police.uk and gmchannel@manchester.gov.uk

If person is under 18 also send the form to - childwellbeing@bury.gov.uk

or if they over 18 please send to adultcareservices@bury.gov.uk

What is Channel?

Channel is an early intervention multi agency panel which is designed to safeguard individuals susceptible of being drawn into extremist or terrorist behaviour.

Channel works in a similar way to existing multi agency partnerships for vulnerable individuals. It is a voluntary process allowing the individual to withdraw from the programme at any time.

Channel is for individuals of any age who are at risk of exploitation by extremist or terrorist ideologies. Early intervention can prevent individuals being drawn into terrorist related activity in a similar way to criminal activity.

Channel with existing collaboration between the local authority, police, children & adult Services, education, health, schools and offender management services to:

  • identify individuals at risk of being drawn into terrorism.
  • assess the nature and extent of that risk.
  • develop a tailored support plan for the individuals concerned.

The Home office recommend the following practice for Channel requirements

Channel Duty Guidance

Are you concerned about someone who is at risk of radicalisation?

If you have any concerns about someone and would like more advice you can contact:

For a pre-discussion and information and guidance around the suitability of submitting a referral for Channel you can contact CTPNW (Counter Terrorism Policing North-West). (CTPNW)

They can advise and support on whether the referral will be appropriate.

Alternatively contact the police confidentially on the Anti-terrorist hotline 0800 789 321.

If you think the threat is imminent, please call the police immediately on 999.

Any information, advice or concern will be handled with sensitivity and where possible anonymity will be maintained.

What happens when you make a referral?

Counter Terrorism Policing (CTPNW) Northwest will assess whether there are any Prevent related concerns.

At the same time the Local Authority will assess if there are any immediate safeguarding concerns. This will allow for other safeguarding concerns to be dealt with immediately without waiting for the outcome of the Police triage process.

There are three potential outcomes from submitted a referral:

  • Closed to Prevent – No Further action. The referral has been assessed and it deemed that the concerns don’t require any support from Prevent / Channel. This will then be signposted to an appropriate agency; this may be the referrer /Early Help.
  • CTPNW will manage the concerns raised. The case will be managed by the Police as they feel it is not appropriate for multi-agency support and want to manage the case more closely.
  • A referral will be made to Channel via the GM Channel Team for multi-agency support & bespoke care package.

Who can make a referral?

Anyone can make a referral, not just professionals. Please note that you do not need the consent of the individual to make a Prevent referral, the individual will be asked to consent to Channel if they are assessed as needing Channel support.

If you are family member or a friend, you may wish to look at the ACT Early Website which is aimed at offering guidance to friends and family members who have a concern about someone being radicalised.

https://actearly.uk

Making a Prevent Referral

You can make a referral to Prevent using the online form or alternatively you can download a copy of the form from the links below.

Make a referral (Link)

Online Training

Prevent: https://www.elearning.prevent.homeoffice.gov.uk

https://www.elearning.prevent.homeoffice.gov.uk/preventreferrals Channel Awareness

https://www.elearning.prevent.homeoffice.gov.uk/channelawareness