If you're worried about someone, call the ACT Early Support Line on 0800 011 3764, in confidence, to share your concerns with specially trained officers.
Radicalisation is the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies associated with terrorist groups.
Terrorism is the use or threat of an action for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial, or ideological cause which is designed to influence:
- the UK Government or
- international governmental organisation or
- the public or section of the public.
Extremism is defined as: "vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. We also include in our definition of extremism calls for the death of members of our armed forces."
It is important to understand the relationship between extremism and terrorism:
“Preventing people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism requires challenge to extremist ideas where they are used to legitimise terrorism and are shared by terrorist groups”
(Radicalisation and Extremism definitions taken from Home Office Prevent Duty Guidance (2021) Glossary of terms (radicalisation) and paragraph 7 (extremism), paragraph 8 (relationship between extremism and terrorism).
Terrorism is defined by the Section 1 Terrorism Act 2000
Emotional and practical support is available to anyone who has been affected by terrorism. Whether directly involved, a witness, or otherwise impacted by this event or another terrorist incident, support includes a 24/7 national contact centre and caseworker support, mental health assessment and bereavement services, and facilitated peer support. If you feel that you or someone in your network may need support, please visit or refer them to www.gov.uk/victimsofterrorism.
What is Terrorism?
What is Terrorism?
Terrorism involves committing violent acts for political, religious or ideological reasons.
The acts can be committed as part of an organised group or alone, however it is usually categorised as a group phenomenon.
In the build up to committing these violent acts, people are usually radicalised. Radicalisation is the action or process of causing someone to adopt radical positions on political or social issues.
Vulnerable people, including children, young people and adults with care and support needs, can be exploited by people who seek to involve them in terrorism or activity in support of terrorism.
There is a multi-agency approach, called ‘Channel’, which looks at referrals of people at risk of being drawn into terrorism and decides whether, or not, action needs to be taken to support them to reduce the risk of radicalisation and violent extremism. The Channel process is designed to develop an appropriate support package to safeguard those at risk of being drawn into terrorism, based on an assessment of their vulnerability.
This approach works alongside the existing safeguarding processes to protect people at risk from radicalisation. If the person at risk of being drawn into terrorism is an adult with care and support needs, this should be considered as a safeguarding concern.
If you are a professional or volunteer working with a person who is at risk of being drawn into terrorism and want to know how to refer to the Channel Process, please discuss with your Designated Safeguarding Lead.
If you are the person who is concerned that you are being drawn into terrorism; a family member or carer or a concerned member of the public, please click the “Report a Concern” button at the top of this page.
The Prevent National Referral Form should be completed if you have concerns a young person is being exploited for radicalisation.
Counter-Terrorism
Section 26 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty on certain “specified authorities” which includes local authorities, schools, universities, health services, police, prisons and probation to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. The United Kingdom has a long-term plan for countering both international and domestic terrorism, known as the Contest Strategy, which is divided into 4 strands:
- Pursue: is about detecting and disrupting threats of terrorism. It is targeted at those who have committed or who are planning to commit a crime
- Protect: is concerned with strengthening the country’s infrastructure from an attack including reducing the vulnerability of the transport network and improving security for crowded places
- Prepare: focuses on areas of the infrastructure where an attack cannot be stopped and the aim is to reduce the impact of an attack by preparing to respond effectively
- Prevent: is an early intervention process and operates in the “pre-criminal space” It aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism
Shropshire’s PREVENT aim and objectives
In respect of terrorism, Shropshire is assessed to be a low risk area, but it is important not to be complacent. There is a particular concern that vulnerable people may be at risk of radicalisation through the influence of others or via the internet, including ideas and issues around their identity. A proportionate response needs to be taken to mitigate any threat, risk or harm posed to vulnerable adults, children and communities from extremist groups. This includes recognising CONTEST work including ‘the Prevent duty’ is inextricably linked to other main safeguarding issues such as vulnerability and Hate Crime. Together we need to promote strong and positive relationships between people from different backgrounds in the workplace, schools and within communities.
The practical application of PREVENT in Shropshire
In order to raise awareness of PREVENT beyond the specific duties of the specified authorities it is important that there is a ‘joined up’ and multi-agency approach to Prevent in Shropshire. Therefore, multi-agency partnership working focuses on the following:
- Provide reassurance that at a county level there are effective mechanisms in place to ensure Shropshire is meeting its Prevent Duty
- Share good practice on staff training and workforce development
- Have a co-ordinated approach to the support available in the county
- Ensure effective communication and raise awareness of the Duty and the risks in Shropshire
- Oversee the work of the Channel Panel and identify areas of learning
- Respond to the risks identified in the local counter terrorism profile
- Support community cohesion activities aimed at building resilience, which will assist in preventing radicalisation and extremism
Vulnerable people, including children, young people and vulnerable adults, can be exploited by people who seek to involve them in terrorism or activity in support of terrorism.