Prevent

Introduction to Prevent 

Prevent is part of the UK's counter terrorism strategy. It aims to prevent people from supporting violent extremism and all forms of potential terrorism, such as Al Qaeda, Daesh inspired, far right, Irish republican, animal rights, faith-based extremism and other types of terrorism in all its forms.

Like all local authorities, we have a legal duty to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015. We work with local partners to protect the public, prevent crime and to promote strong, integrated communities. 

Preventing violent extremism is one of the '4 Ps' within the government's strategy for countering violent extremism, known as Contest:

  • Prevent - stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting violent extremism
  • Pursue - stopping terrorist attacks
  • Protect - strengthening protection against terrorist attacks
  • Prepare - where an attack cannot be stopped, mitigating its impact.

The current prevent strategy is made up of 3 key objectives

  • respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and of those extremist views conducive to it
  • prevent vulnerable people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support
  • work with sectors and institutions where there are either risks of radicalisation or opportunities to prevent it , or both. This includes education, faith, health, charities, prisons and probation. The strategy spells out what the government is planning in each area and looks at the particular issue of the internet.

View a 7 minute briefing for Prevent