The government published its Prevent strategy in 2011, one of four strands of the wider counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST.
A key element of the Prevent strategy is to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.
In March 2015, the revised Prevent Duty Guidance: For England and Wales, placed a duty on universities to have regard for this guidance when carrying out this duty.
The University’s Board of Governors in May 2015 approved the formation of a Prevent Steering Group which has taken a strategic lead on this.
The group has met on a monthly basis and created Prevent Guidelines, a risk assessment and action plan to mitigate against the risks associated with this area.
The University has submitted detailed reports and evidence to Hefce (latterly the OfS) to show how we are complying with the act.
The Director of Student Experience or designated other will talk to you about your concerns.
They may advise on internal support including, but not limited to, the Counselling Team or The Mental Health Team for students or Human Resources for staff.
If it is deemed to be a serious Prevent issue, they may send an anonymised overview of the circumstances to Luton Borough Council’s Prevent Co-Ordinator for a further opinion, or they may send the information directly to the Police’s Prevent Unit.
You may be asked for further information about your concerns but it is unlikely that any further action will be required from you.
WRAP (Workshop to Raise Awareness of Prevent) sessions have taken place in Luton, Bedford and Milton Keynes.
Let’s Talk About It is an initiative designed to provide practical help and guidance to the public in order to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
Further information and resources are available at www.ltai.info
You can view the Revised Prevent Duty Guidance from Hefce [PDF]
Below is a list of terms referred to in this policy or in relation to the overall Prevent agenda. The glossary of terms has been sourced from the Revised Prevent Duty Guidance: for England and Wales
Section 1 Terrorism Act 2000 defines ‘terrorism’ as the use or threat of action where the action involves violence against a person, property, endangers a person’s life, creates a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or aims to seriously interfere with or disrupt an electronic system. The use or threat must be designed to influence the government, intimidate the public and must be made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.
‘Extremism’ is defined in the 2011 Prevent strategy as vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. It also includes the call for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas.
‘Non-violent extremism’ is extremism, which is not accompanied by violence.
‘Radicalisation’ refers to the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies associated with terrorist groups.
‘Prevention’ in the context of this document means reducing or eliminating the risk of individuals becoming involved in terrorism. Prevent includes but is not confined to the Identification and referral of those at risk of being drawn into terrorism. These interventions aim to divert vulnerable people from radicalisation.
Safeguarding is the process of protecting vulnerable people, whether from crime or other forms of abuse from being drawn into terrorist-related activity.