Keeping Children Safe in Education Preventing Radicalisation Nathan Hazlehurst Prevent and Cohesion Officer, City of Wolverhampton Council
National Strategy CONTEST Strategy Pursue - to stop terrorist attacks Prevent - to stop people being drawn into terrorism Protect - to strengthen our protection against terrorist attack Prepare - Where an attack cannot be stopped, to mitigate its impact PREVENT Strategy Ideology Respond to the ideological challenge and the threat to those who promote it Individuals prevent people being drawn into terrorism Institutions work with sectors where there are risks of radicalisation
Current threat levels National: Severe this means that a terrorist attack is highly likely Risks: British citizens and residents becoming radicalised here and committing acts of violence in the UK or abroad British citizens travelling abroad, becoming radicalised and returning to radicalise others or commit acts of violence in the UK 850+ British citizens known to have travelled, ¼ have returned Vulnerable groups young people, women & families, those with mental ill health or learning disabilities Risk of returnees exposed to atrocities/up-skilled and radicalised - Humanitarian crisis in Syria acts as a pull Lone actor threat inspired to act without direct instruction
Risk and Threat
Local: Low Current threat levels - Wolverhampton Classed as non-priority area by Home Office one of two local authority areas in West Midlands Counter Terrorism Local Profile (CTLP) assesses risk/threat annual with quarterly updates
Counter Terrorism & Security Act 2015 Built in a raft of measures to strengthen the national response. Introduces statutory Prevent duty: to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. Organisations/sectors impacted: Local Authorities Higher education providers Further education providers Schools The health sector Prisons Probation providers Police Comes into force 1 July 2015 On 1 July 2015, the Department for Education published guidance for schools on the Prevent duty Ofsted inspection framework - promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils and within this, fundamental British values in school
Role of Schools KCSIE Guidance: Schools expected to assess the risk of children being drawn into terrorism or supporting extremist ideology. Assessment of Risk: Having a general understanding of risks affecting young people Geographic area within which the school is located and consideration for the areas where pupils reside Students identifying individual vulnerabilities
Assessing Vulnerability Engagement Intent Capability Feelings of anger/grievance/injustice Over-identification with group cause or ideology Individual knowledge, skills or competencies Threat/insecurity Them and us thinking Access to networks, funding or equipment Need for identify/meaning/belonging Dehumanisation of the enemy Criminal history Need for status Need for comradeship/adventure Dominance and control Attitudes to justify offending Harmful means to an end Harmful objectives Susceptibility to indoctrination, groupthink Political/moral motivation Opportunistic involvement Family/friends support extremism Transitional periods Group influence/control Mental health
Channel Panel Channel provides the opportunity to safeguard children and adults, providing early intervention to protect and divert people away from being drawn into terrorist activity; Channel is at the heart of the Prevent Strategy. Multi-agency Non-criminal Safeguards children and adults from being drawn into terrorism Delivers and coordinates early intervention Individual must consent to engage (parent/guardian consents if 17 and under) S38 CTSA 2015 Requires schools to cooperate with Channel 51 referrals 2015-16 largest % of referrals are from schools
Referral Pathway Information/Referral Received Prevent Engagement Officer documents concerns partner information sought Prevent Case Management 3 M s & Vulnerability Assessment No Action Single agency support Channel Panel Police action
Role of Schools KCSIE Guidance: Working in Partnership linking with existing partnership structures e.g. LSCB policies & procedures Provision: LSCB school representation, information, training City-wide multi-agency CONTEST Board how can schools best engage? Information sent via schools bulletins
Role of Schools KCSIE Guidance: Prevent Awareness Training equip staff with skills to identify vulnerability and confidence to challenge extremist ideology Provision: Termly Governor Training sessions available for school governors School based training requests - standards.training@wolverhampton.gov.uk (for all schools in the city, LA maintained, non-maintained state schools and independent schools)
Role of Schools KCSIE Guidance: Schools must ensure children are safe from terrorist and extremist material when accessing the internet in schools. General online safety Filtering Response: Learning Technologies team leading on filters within LA schools, and offering support to non-la schools Community Ambassadors programme run by Learning Technologies aiming on improving internet safety amongst parents and students
www.educateagainsthate.com Email: safer@wolverhampton.gov.uk Email: l.bird@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk