What is Prevent?
What is Prevent?
Prevent: helping protect people from radicalisation
Prevent is part of the government’s counter-terrorism strategy, called Counter Terrorism Strategy (CONTEST). It helps protect people who may be at risk of radicalisation. The aim is to offer support early, before any crime takes place.
The London Borough of Harrow works with schools, health services, police, faith groups, charities and community organisations. Together, they help identify people who may need support.
Prevent tackles all forms of extremism and terrorism. This includes Islamist extremism, far-right extremism and other harmful ideologies.
What is radicalisation?
Radicalisation is when a person slowly comes to support terrorism or extremist views that may lead to harm or violence.
This can happen over time. A person may be influenced by friends, online content or difficult life experiences.
Early support can help people make safer choices. It can also help them avoid becoming involved in harmful or criminal activity.
Spotting signs of radicalisation
Like other safeguarding concerns, radicalisation can be hard to identify. The signs are not always obvious and may develop slowly.
A person may:
- Stop taking part in school, work or regular activities
- Become more isolated or secretive, including online
- Express extremist views or show intolerance towards others
- Become focused on conspiracy theories or an “us versus them” way of thinking
- Speak positively about violence or hatred towards certain groups
- Make sudden changes to their identity, appearance, language or friendship group
- Try to access, view or share extremist content
These signs do not always mean someone is being radicalised. However, they may show that the person needs help and support.
If you are worried about someone, follow your safeguarding procedures and use your professional judgement.
Who can raise a concern?
Anyone can raise a concern about someone who may be vulnerable to radicalisation.
This includes:
- Teachers and school staff
- Social workers
- General Practitioners (GPs) and other healthcare professionals
- Safeguarding professionals
- Community and faith leaders
- Family members and carers
- Friends
- Members of the public
How to raise a concern
If you are concerned that someone may be vulnerable to radicalisation, you should make a referral.
Trained specialists will review the information and decide what support may be needed.