The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 contains a new duty on specified authorities to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. The government has produced guidance for specified authorities, which they must have regard to when complying with the duty.
Who will the new Prevent duty apply to?
The duty will apply to bodies which have significant interaction with people who could be vulnerable to radicalisation. This ensures that the duty is proportionate. These include schools, local authorities, police forces, some NHS bodies, further and higher education providers, prisons and young offender institutions and providers of probation services.
Objectives of the Prevent strategy
The Prevent strategy is one of the four elements of CONTEST, the national counter-terrorism strategy, covers all forms of extremism and has three strategic objectives:
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- Respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it;
- Prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate support; and
- Work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to address.
In complying with the duty all specified authorities should demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the risk of radicalisation in their area.
For further information, please contact Charlie Pericleous at Portsmouth City Council – charlie.pericleous@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
