Agenda item

(To receive a report from Clare Newborn, Community Safety Manger, which provides the Committee with a summary of Prevent activity in Lincolnshire during the course of 2021/22 and the intentions for the coming year)

SITTING AS THE CRIME AND DISORDER SCRFUTINY COMMITTEE

The Chairman invited Sara Barry, Head of Safer Communities, to remotely present the item, which provided a summary of Prevent activity in Lincolnshire during 2021/22.  Paul Drury, Prevent Officer was also present remotely, to provide support for this item.

The Head of Safer Communities took the opportunity to extend her thanks to Paul for all his work in his role as Prevent Officer with the council and wished him well in his future retirement.

In guiding the Committee through the report mention was made to:

·       the continuing threats from terrorism in the UK;

·       the Council’s role in delivering Prevent;

·       the three objectives of Prevent;

·       the Lincolnshire Prevent;

·       the Channel Panel, a key element of Prevent delivery, a multi-agency approach to provide support at an early stage to those identified as being vulnerable to being drawn into any form of terrorism or supporting terrorist organisations; and

·       Community engagement, the Committee noted that work carried out across the county included working with third sector organisations to support a wide range of projects, working with schools, families in local communities to build up an awareness of the risks of radicalization; and national development.

The Committee was advised that the Local Authority was required to ensure that all staff were appropriately trained to be able to recognize radicalization, extremism and vulnerability.  Details of the training provided, and attendance figures were shown within the report presented.

During consideration of the report, the Committee raised some of the following comments:

·       Some concern was raised about extreme right-wing influences on school age children (reference Page 109 of the report).  The Committee was reassured that when work was done with young people across the communities and that all forms of extremism were covered.  It was highlighted that when training was provided to schools it was aimed for teachers, as they were the prime source of observation amongst the children;

·       Women’s engagement events – It was noted that three events had been held prior to Covid-19; and now that restrictions were lifting events were re-starting again and events were planned at Grantham, Skegness and Stamford and a families’ event at RAF Scampton, a first for the council working with the armed forces.  It was also highlighted that officers worked with parish councils and village hall committees to raise awareness of the work being undertaken regarding Prevent.  It was agreed that dates of the forthcoming events would be shared with the Committee; and

·       Thanks were extended to the excellent Prevent training session provided by Paul for councillors.  Mention was also made to the role of councillors in their communities in delivering the Prevent message.  It was also highlighted that all councillors should have the opportunity to attend Prevent training.

The Chairman on behalf of the Committee extended his thanks to officers for the presentation; and best wishes were also extended to Paul in his retirement.

RESOLVED

That the Annual Review of Prevent be received and that the comment raised by the Committee be noted.