Ceredigion County Council website

Counter Terrorism, Prevent and Channel Panel

What is Prevent?

Prevent is a national programme that aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It works to ensure that people who are susceptible to radicalisation are offered appropriate interventions, and communities are protected against radicalising influences.

Radicalisation can happen when a person develops extreme views or beliefs that support terrorist groups or activities.

There are many ways that a person could become radicalised, and people can become exposed to radicalising influences in-person, or online.

If someone you know is expressing extreme views or hatred and you would like advice please visit Get help for radicalisation concerns - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The objectives of Prevent Duty are to

• Tackle the ideological causes of terrorism.
• Intervene early to support people susceptible to radicalisation.
• Enable people who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate.

Part of the Prevent duty also includes:

• Training for frontline staff in recognising, referring and responding to radicalisation
• Projects to build capacity, increase resilience and improve understanding of extremism and radicalisation with partners such as schools, colleges, frontline staff and community groups.
• Referral service for concerns, called Channel, which acts as an early intervention service to safeguard vulnerable individuals from radicalisation

If you work with those susceptible to radicalisation in an out of school setting, such as youth organisations, sports sessions, music lessons and would like to learn how to offer support please visit www.gov.uk/prevent-duty-training, https://actearly.uk/ or you can contact the Community Safety Department for further advice.

Ceredigion Channel Panel

Like child protection, Channel is a multi-agency safeguarding programme run in every local authority in England and Wales. It works to support vulnerable people from being drawn into terrorism and provides a range of support such as mentoring, counselling, assistance with employment etc. Channel is about early intervention to protect vulnerable people from being drawn into committing terrorist-related activity and addresses all types of extremism.

Participation in Channel is voluntary. It is up to an individual, or their parents for children aged 17 and under, to decide whether to take up the support it offers. Channel does not lead to a criminal record.

The local Channel Panel Chair is Elizabeth Upcott, Corporate Manager, Quality Assurance and Safeguarding, Ceredigion County Council.

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

Ceredigion County Council Safeguarding – 01545 574000 (inside working hours) 0300 4563554 (outside working hours).

Dyfed Powys Police – If you feel the matter is urgent, please contact the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789321, or in case of an emergency always dial 999.