Agenda item

Prevent and the Implications for Children and Young People

(To receive a report from Nicole Hilton, Chief Community Engagement Officer, which provides the Committee with an update on Prevent activity in Lincolnshire during 2017/18, as a result of changes to the Counter-Terrorism Bill 2014 and the introduction of the Government Counter-Extremism Strategy 2015 and the updated CONTEST Strategy 2018, including the new responsibilities placed upon Local Authorities and in particular the implications for Children and Young People)

Minutes:

The Committee received a presentation from Nicole Hilton, Chief Community Engagement Officer, which provided an update on Prevent activity in Lincolnshire during 2017/18, as a result of changes to the Counter-Terrorism Bill 2014, and the introduction of the Government Counter-Extremism Strategy 2015 and the updated Contest Strategy 2018, including the new responsibilities placed upon Local Authorities and in particular the implications for Children and Young People.

 

The presentation made reference to:-

 

·         Roles of Specified authorities, which included assessing the risk of radicalisation in their area; developing an action plan to reduce risks; ensuring staff were trained to recognise radicalisation and extremism; partnership working with others; establishing referral mechanisms; and maintaining records to show compliance;

·         Current International Threat – The Committee noted that the UK faced several different terrorist threats.  It was highlighted that the threat from Islamist terrorism remained the most significant threat.  It was also highlighted that extreme right-wing terrorism was also a growing threat.  Some examples of the on-line content of such threats were shared with members of the Committee;

·         Prevent Duty Guidance for Schools and Educational Providers – The Committee was advised that the Prevent Duty involved providing guidance and advice to schools, childcare providers, the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB); safeguarding British minors returning from the conflict in Syria and Iraq; providing a catalogue of training courses; and educating against Hate;

·         Training – The Committee was advised that some awareness training was conducted face to face; other training available included the Home Office Prevent e-learning and Channel packages; training was also provided to the LSCB relating to understanding Pathways to Extremism and the Prevent Programme.  The Committee was advised that the take up of training by schools in Lincolnshire was high.  The Committee was also advised of the key projects in Lincolnshire, one of these was that a task and finish group that had been established to consider how to engage with young people to discuss concerns around the on-line narrative of extremist ideologies, such as those based around the extreme right wing. A further project was that guidance for schools had been amended to include the updated and strengthened Contest 2018 Strategy.  The Committee was also advised that the Community Engagement Team was supporting the delivery of a three year Countywide Community Collaboration Project, which was due to finish at the end of March 2020.  It was noted that Officers had been working in partnership with the Ethnic Minority and Traveller Education Team to support Supplementary schools, offering training from both the Lincolnshire Police Prevent Officer and the LCC Prevent Officer to raise their awareness of Prevent.  It was also reported that over 250 'Safeguarding Against Extremists' workshops had been delivered to young people by the Lincolnshire Police Prevent Officers in schools, colleges and other establishments; to provide young people with a safe space for debate and allow discussion around sensitive and current issues;

·         Channel – It was highlighted that the Channel Programme was part of the Prevent Strategy, which comprised of a multi-agency programme co-ordinated by the Police to identify individuals vulnerable to radicalisation and to direct them towards appropriate support.  The programme consisted of three elements: identifying individuals at risk; assessing the nature and extent of the risk; and developing the most appropriate support plan for the individual involved.  To deliver the programme the local authority worked with the police and other agencies including the NHS; Social Workers; Educational Institutions; Youth Offending Services; Immigration and Border Agency; Housing Services; Prisons and Probation Services.  It was highlighted further that Channel aimed to stop people moving from extremist groups, or from extremism, into terrorism. It was noted that the Channel Panels had to develop a support plan for accepted cases and signpost individuals to other support where cases were not accepted.  They also had to ensure that consent was sought prior to support being provided; and to ensure that there was co-operation with other panel partners; and

·         Elective Home Educated Children (EHEC) – It was reported that the EHEC did not come under the Prevent Duty.  However, support could be provided by the EHE team as appropriate, as this team had received training on this matter.

 

In conclusion, the Committee was advised that the training and awareness of Prevent continued in Lincolnshire; and that further work was commencing on making the private sector more aware of the Prevent agenda.

 

 

During discussion, the following comments were raised:-

 

·         What type of engagement would be made with private businesses?  The Committee was advised that as the threat in Lincolnshire was low, there was a balance that needed to be made between causing alarm and providing awareness.  It was noted that some influential organisations would be invited to come and talk to officers about Prevent; and made aware of the on-line training;

·         That parents needed to have an awareness of what their child/children were doing particularly on-line;

·         One member asked at what stage would hate speech become a terrorist threat.  The Committee was advised that hate speech was not illegal.  However, if a threat became continual and action was taken by an individual on the threat, then that would be unlawful;

·         Whether there were any links with mental health issues and extremism.  The Committee was advised that a high number of cases did not involve mental health issues.  However, it was highlighted that sometimes it was hard to disconnect mental health issues to radicalisation.  In cases such as these, experts would be brought in.  It was also highlighted that some forms of Autism, with particular reference to Asperger's made, had seen links to Neo-Nazism as memorabilia and military collections were appealing to them;

·         The use of Facebook; and the need to ensure that parents were aware of the potential threats to their children;

·         One member asked if in a situation where a parent had extreme views, would the school be targeted?  The Committee was advised that there would be education of all partners if the individual was referred through the Channel Panel;

·         A question was asked as to how many Prevent cases had been identified in Lincolnshire; and how success was measured.  The Committee was advised that figures pertaining to Lincolnshire could not be shared; as these figures were not owned by the local authority, but by the Home Office.  With regard to Prevent Statistics, it was highlighted that these were published every six months. It was highlighted further that nationally numbers of referrals usually increased following an attack.  Officers advised that success could be measured on the number of people involved around the table; the level of collaboration from all organisations; and the uptake of courses;

·         Clarification was made that anyone was able to refer.  It was highlighted that there was an on-line Prevent LCC website, toolkit and on-line training available;

·         It was queried whether home educated pupils were at risk as they were not part of the Prevent duty.  Reassurance was given that interactions happened routinely with the EHE team and such pupils; and that contact was limited;

·         One member highlighted the need for community cohesion and links to the Council;

·         Involvement with organised groups such as Cadet Forces.  The Committee was advised that there was involvement with organised groups; and that some groups had a greater understanding; and as a result some of the young people were being ambassadors to other young people; and

·         The threat of extremism on-line for young people and those more vulnerable.

 

The Chairman on behalf of the Committee extended thanks to the Chief Community Engagement Officer and her Team for all their hard work with children and young people.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Prevent and the Implications for Children presentation be received.

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