The Prevent strategy, published by the Government in 2011, is part of their overall counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST. The aim of the Prevent strategy is to reduce the threat to the UK from terrorism by stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. In the Act this has simply been expressed as the need to “prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.

 The 2011 Prevent strategy has three specific strategic objectives:

  • 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 advice and support
  • work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to address.

Prevent is about working together to safeguard, support and protect those vulnerable to radicalisation and extremist ideas

At Hebburn Lakes we are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all pupils. All staff place as much importance on safeguarding against radicalism and extremism as they do towards safeguarding against any other vulnerability in today’s society. Our Prevent policy (available on the school website) sets out our beliefs, strategies and procedures to protect vulnerable individuals from being radicalised or exposed to extremist views, by identifying who they are and promptly providing them with support.

The prevent strategy promotes a multi-agency approach which recognises the vulnerability of children and young people to radicalisation. The aim is to safeguard those at risk and work together to provide the skills, understanding and support to children and young people to make critical choices and develop strategies to resist radicalisation and extremism.