Prevent duty
The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act places a duty on specified authorities, including schools and colleges, to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism ('the Prevent duty'). The Prevent duty reinforces existing duties placed upon educational establishments for keeping children safe.
Make a referral
Norfolk Channel Procedures (updated 2019) give guidance around making referrals to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) about Prevent. If you are concerned that someone may be vulnerable to radicalisation or extremism in Norfolk, you should use the National Prevent referral form. The form replaces the VTR1 and is designed in such a way to prompt the referrer to describe as much detail as possible, which in turn will allow for comprehensive and timely assessment. Send completed forms to: Prevent@norfolk.pnn.police.uk.
If you have any questions about completing the referral form contact: PC Donna Flannagan on 01953 423905 or 07779 434626 or Amanda Young on 01953 423896.
Guidance and training
As part of the Norfolk’s strategic approach to the Prevent duty, risk assessment and action plan templates have been produced for all the relevant sectors (including education) – these templates along with the Strategy can be downloaded from the Norfolk County Council website.
- Local guidance (2019) has been produced to support schools to raise awareness of Prevent with staff
- The local authority model policy includes information about Prevent
- There is a whole-school staff training module for Prevent
- Home Office: Revised Prevent duty guidance: for England and Wales
- Home Office: Prevent duty guidance: for further education institutions in England and Wales
- Department for Education: The prevent duty: departmental advice for schools and childcare providers
- Department for Education: Promoting fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools: Departmental advice for maintained schools (DfE 2014)
- The Home Office has published advice and online resources for parents, children and teachers explaining what schools and colleges can do to support people affected by terrorism
- Prevent resources for schools and colleges