Independent report

Independent Review of Prevent: One year on progress report (accessible)

Updated 20 February 2024

Foreword

The first duty of government is to keep British citizens safe and our country secure. Reducing the threat to the UK from terrorism is a crucial part of that duty, and I take it extremely seriously.

Prevent is one of the four pillars of CONTEST, the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy which was refreshed in July 2023. Prevent is vital in stopping people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism in the first place. Early intervention prevents individuals from committing acts of terrorism and reduces the chances of radicalisers spreading their insidious, extremist ideologies.

The importance of Prevent has been brought into sharp focus by the Israel/Hamas conflict. In the 68 days following Hamas’s 7 October 2023 terrorist attack against Israel, the UK saw a 534% increase in antisemitic incidents.^{[footnote 1]}

We are alive to the risk of radicalisation, with extremist groups – both Islamist and extreme right-wing – capitalising on the events in Gaza to galvanise others to their causes. We cannot allow this to escalate into terrorist violence in the UK. In proscribing Hizb ut-Tahrir, this government has shown that we will take decisive action when needed.

Independent Review of Prevent

The Independent Review of Prevent, led by Sir William Shawcross, was critical in ensuring that Prevent is fit for purpose and agile enough to meet the threat we face. I would like to reiterate my thanks to Sir William and his team for their unflinching commitment in completing such a thorough review. In implementing the recommendations made by the review, we have delivered a renewed Prevent programme that has tackling terrorist ideologies at its core, recognises that Islamist terrorism is the greatest threat, and can respond confidently to all threats facing the UK.

I would also like to place on record my thanks to the Commission for Countering Extremism, who have provided independent scrutiny, expertise, and thought leadership as we have delivered the Government’s response.

Prevent cannot be delivered by the Home Office alone. Implementation of the recommendations has required a truly collaborative approach, with other government departments, sectors, local authorities, policing and community organisations all playing important roles.

I am proud of our work, but it never stops and there is zero room for complacency. It is vital that we continue to embed these changes across all aspects of Prevent. The whole counter-terrorism system needs to continually evolve and adapt to the ever-changing threat from terrorism. Now, thanks to the work undertaken in response to the review, we have a first-class Prevent programme that can play a central role in this effort.

Rt Hon James Cleverly MP

Home Secretary

Executive summary

1. Prevent is a fundamental part of the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy, known as CONTEST^{[footnote 2]}. Prevent aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It does this by tackling the ideological causes of terrorism, intervening early to support those susceptible to radicalisation, and enabling people who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate.

2. Prevent has a vital role in tackling radicalisation. There is no single pathway to radicalisation. There are many factors which can, either alone or combined, lead someone to subscribe to extremist ideology, that in some cases, radicalises them into terrorism. These factors often include exposure to radicalising influences (online and in the real world), real and perceived grievances (often created or exacerbated through grievance narratives espoused by extremists), and an individual’s own susceptibility.

3. Effective partnership and multi-agency working is central to the delivery of Prevent, with government, operational partners, and communities, working together to identify and tackle radicalisation. The Home Office, the Department for Education, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, work in partnership to deliver Prevent and ensure it meets the evolving terrorist threat. HM Prison and Probation Service, Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) and local authorities also play fundamental frontline roles in the operational delivery of Prevent. The Prevent Duty was introduced in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015.^{[footnote 3]} This placed a statutory duty on specified authorities, including health, education, police and local authorities, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This includes referring individuals susceptible to radicalisation to Prevent for support.

4. The Independent Review of Prevent, published on 8 February 2023, was conducted by Sir William Shawcross.^{[footnote 4]} It made 34 recommendations, which the government accepted. In the government response, published on the same day, we set out how we would implement the recommendations, and committed to delivering a renewed Prevent capability, which holds the mission of tackling terrorist ideologies at its core and responds confidently to emerging threats facing the UK.

5. Throughout our delivery of a significant change programme to implement the recommendations and reorient Prevent, we have ensured that all delivery has been underpinned by the guiding principles suggested in the Independent Review:

• Prevent should go back to first principles and reassert its overall objective of stopping people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. The strategy rightly sits as a crucial pillar of the UK’s counter- terrorism architecture, and its focus should always centre upon protection of the public from those inclined to pose a security threat. A significant proportion of Prevent is safeguarding vulnerable individuals at risk of exploitation or abuse. However, Prevent must not overlook those perpetrating this harm, nor those who pose a terrorism threat of their own agency and ideological fervour. In line with this recalibration, the Prevent Duty ought to be redefined, the statutory guidance updated and Prevent’s vulnerability framework tightened

• Prevent needs to develop expertise and instil better levels of understanding of extremist ideology and radicalisation across the system. Improving staff training system-wide, and providing clearer guidance and information to frontline practitioners is integral. This will ensure those delivering Prevent possess the confidence needed to identify extremism, and understand the ideological nature of terrorism

• Prevent needs to enhance its approach to delivery. This should involve restructuring to a regional model, moving away from short term annual funding cycles when projects warrant it, and considering the expansion of the statutory Prevent Duty to an increased number of public agencies

• Prevent should create processes for responding to disinformation being spread about the scheme. Equally, Prevent should encourage public trust by improving transparency and establishing better oversight of how the strategy is implemented. Where members of the public or practitioners have grounds for believing Prevent may have fallen short of its own standards, they must have a place to formally take their complaints. Demonstrating that Prevent has nothing to hide by upholding complaints when they are justified, while also putting on public record when allegations are unfounded, can only enhance public trust in the scheme

6. We have made significant progress in implementing the recommendations, with 30 of the 34 recommendations completed in full, and 115 of the 120 sub-actions delivered. Full details of the steps we have taken to implement each recommendation can be found in the next section of this report, but some of the key changes that significantly strengthen Prevent are:

Prevent duty guidance

7. The new Prevent duty guidance for England and Wales took effect on 31 December 2023, following parliamentary approval.^{[footnote 5]} The guidance assists statutory partners in understanding how to comply with their duty ‘to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’. It is statutory guidance issued under section 29 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act (CTSA) 2015.

8. The new guidance responds to several recommendations and was developed in consultation with a range of key government partners and frontline practitioners. Key changes include:

• updating Prevent’s first objective to ‘tackling the ideological causes of terrorism’. We have also set out clearly that the ideological component of terrorism is what sets it apart from other acts of serious violence, and the importance of applying common thresholds across ideologies

• clearly setting out that the threat from terrorism is becoming more diverse, but Islamist terrorism currently remains our primary and deadliest threat

• including ‘Reducing Permissive Environments’ as a key theme to tackle the ideological causes of terrorism. Drawing out this theme significantly changes the tone of the guidance and encourages the challenging of ideas linked to terrorism such as antisemitism or using blasphemy to justify violence

• clarifying appropriate terminology, with ‘susceptibility to radicalisation’ and ‘susceptibility to becoming a terrorist or supporting terrorism’ now the standard terminology. The term ‘vulnerability’ has also been clearly defined to ensure it is only used when appropriate

Training

9. Training is a key tool that supports frontline public sector staff under the duty to identify confidently people who are at risk of being radicalised and refer them to Prevent. By refreshing existing training to reflect the recommendations in the Independent Review of Prevent, alongside developing new training packages that increase understanding of extremist ideologies, we are equipping statutory partners to fulfil their obligations more effectively and to make better decisions on when Prevent support is needed.

10. The new Prevent training offer has been developed alongside key partners including the Commission for Countering Extremism (CCE), Department for Education, Department for Health and Social Care, and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. This has included direct testing and piloting with frontline staff to ensure key information is clear. Key changes include:

• updated training packages on GOV.UK have been launched aimed at improving awareness of Prevent and its updated objectives amongst frontline workers. These set out clearly how to make a referral to Prevent, including understanding how to identify people who are susceptible to radicalisation. Prevent refresher training is provided to ensure that Prevent knowledge and awareness remains up to date. Specific training is also available for those participating in Channel multi-agency panels^{[footnote 6]}

• a new face-to-face training package for frontline staff subject to the Prevent Duty has been developed and is now being piloted. This will enable specialist trainers to have more detailed discussions, including on how to make high quality referrals that are relevant to Prevent. It also enables training to be tailored to the specific sector or location

• CCE has supported the expert- led development of a bespoke ideology training package. This will sit alongside core Prevent face-to-face training, to enhance awareness and understanding of key extremist ideologies amongst frontline staff

• CCE are also rolling out expert ideology training to Prevent practitioners in the police, local authorities and education. This will help key Prevent leads maintain the breadth and depth of understanding required to ensure Prevent is working to the right thresholds and is proportionate to the threat. This training is also being rolled out to civil servants working on Prevent as a mandatory requirement

Prevent assessment framework

11. A new Prevent assessment framework (PAF) has been developed by the expert Counter Terrorism Assessment and Rehabilitation Centre, that is based on the most up to date evidence and learning. This tool replaces the vulnerability assessment framework (VAF) and will be used to triage all referrals into Prevent and to identify and assess counter-terrorism risk. This ensures that decision-making on all Prevent referrals continues to be rigorous, consistent, proportionate, and that only those that pose a counter- terrorism risk are supported by Prevent.

12. The key benefits of the new PAF tool include:

• a streamlined tool that better reflects research and understanding of those susceptible to radicalisation, is easier to use by Counter Terrorism Policing, and takes less time to complete

• earlier and more accurate identification of referrals that are suitable for Prevent and can be supported through the multi-agency Channel process. This will ensure that Prevent support is only provided to those that are susceptible to radicalisation

• improved supporting processes to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the risk assessment process for all referrals adopted as a Prevent case. This will improve Prevent case management and help ensure individuals get the support they need to move away from radicalisation

13. The PAF has been thoroughly tested and approved by expert accreditors. Roll-out of the tool has begun and it is now in use across two regions. All regions will be using the PAF by September 2024. Counter Terrorism Assessment and Rehabilitation Centre, Home Office and Counter Terrorism Policing will continue to work collaboratively to ensure the PAF is not only robust, efficient, and evidence-informed, but also operationally viable and well-integrated with current referral systems.

Channel duty guidance

14. The CTSA 2015 placed a duty on local authorities to have in place a panel to support individuals vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism. These are known as Channel panels in England and Wales. New Channel duty guidance was published on 9 October 2023, that reflects the findings of the Independent Review of Prevent, strengthens the Home Office’s quality assurance of how Channel is delivered, and responds swiftly to tackle any disparities in operational practice.^{[footnote 7]} It was informed by wide stakeholder consultation.

Key changes include:

• a greater focus on ideology as a determinant of Prevent thresholds, alongside the introduction of mechanisms and tools for practitioners to assure themselves that only those meeting this Prevent threshold are progressed for Prevent support. This includes the new Security Threat Check for strategic decision-making, a new training offer, and it outlines the new PAF tool for Counter Terrorism Policing and panel use

• clarifying new terminology on susceptibility to radicalisation and highlighting that not all individuals will have other vulnerabilities or lack individual agency

• strengthened measures to provide assurance that ideological bias is not a feature of key decision points in the Prevent process, with scope to address any disparity of practice where identified

• provision of operational updates for Channel practice, including additional measures for proportionate oversight following case closure, which strengthens the role of the family, and measures to scope the extension of Channel support where the threshold for criminal investigations has been met

Standards and Compliance Unit

15. A Standards and Compliance Unit (StaCU) will form a standalone part of the Commission for Countering Extremism. To ensure its independence from Prevent policy and operations, support for the development of StaCU has been provided by the central Home Office Policy Unit. StaCU will provide a clear and accessible route for the public and practitioners to raise concerns about Prevent activity where it may have fallen short of the high standards we expect. StaCU will be active from the 28 February, with people able to make initial contact through the website.

16. StaCU will triage complaints and direct them to the relevant body for investigation, ensuring complaints are handled promptly, fairly and transparently. It will regularly report on data trends to the Prevent Ministerial Oversight Board. Ministers may instruct investigations through the new unit where there is a concern that a specified authority is failing to discharge the Prevent Duty. StaCU feedback into the Prevent programme will help to rapidly identify any systemic issues for resolution and ensure we continue to learn and continuously improve Prevent.

17. The benefits of establishing StaCU as an oversight mechanism include:

• a website where the public and practitioners can easily lodge a complaint, which will be triaged by StaCU and directed to the relevant complaints body

• ability to undertake specific investigations into systemic issues, which will help to increase public confidence in Prevent

• detailed analysis of data trends over time, which will support continued change and improvement

• publication of an annual report to ensure StaCU’s findings are open and transparent, but reported in a way that protects the anonymity of those involved

• feedback to the Prevent Ministerial Oversight Board, and wider Prevent system, on the effectiveness of the Prevent programme. This ‘early warning system’ will highlight issues early and allow for remedial action to be taken swiftly

Next steps

18. A significant change programme has already been implemented, but there is still more to do to ensure change is firmly embedded across government and frontline sectors. We will continue to work at pace to implement the remaining 4 recommendations and 5 sub-actions.

19. Additionally, we will monitor the implementation of the recommendations to ensure that Prevent continues to hold itself to the high standards we have committed to, and remains agile in responding to the ever-changing threat picture in the UK. We will do this as part of the broader evaluation strategy set out in CONTEST 2023, and through an internal assurance and results monitoring programme. Both the StaCU and Prevent Ministerial Oversight Board will also play an important role in holding Prevent to account.

Implementation update

Recommendation 1

Revise Prevent objective one of three in the duty guidance, and legislation where necessary, to clarify and emphasise the importance of tackling extremist ideology as a terrorism driver.

Prevent’s first objective should be to “tackle the ideological causes of terrorism”.

Progress update

We have changed the first objective of Prevent to: “tackling the ideological causes of terrorism”. This reflects the important role played by ideology in an individual’s radicalisation to terrorism, and has been reflected in:

• CONTEST, the UK’s Strategy for Countering Terrorism, which was updated and published on 18 July 2023^{[footnote 8]}

• new Prevent duty guidance, came into effect in England and Wales on 31 December 2023^{[footnote 9]}

To reinforce the importance of ideology, as well as updating the training available on GOV.UK, the CCE has completed development of specialist ideology training. This training is being rolled-out to Prevent practitioners and civil servants, and will also be hosted on Prevent training platforms to make it available to all public sector workers.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 2

Move away from ‘vulnerability’ language and towards ‘susceptibility’, wherever accurate.

The Vulnerability Assessment Framework should become the Prevent Assessment Framework. ‘Vulnerability’ should be reserved for welfare concerns and circumstances beyond an individual’s control.

Progress update

‘Susceptibility to radicalisation’ is now the standard terminology across Prevent. It is clearly articulated in the new Prevent duty guidance, in the new Channel duty guidance, and in all Prevent training products. The term ‘vulnerability’ has also been clearly defined to ensure it is only used when appropriate.

The new PAF replaces the VAF and will be used to triage all referrals into Prevent and to identify and assess counter-terrorism risk. This ensures that decision-making on all Prevent referrals is rigorous, consistent, proportionate, and that only those who are at risk of becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism are supported by Prevent.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 3

Reset thresholds to ensure proportionality across Prevent workstreams.

Prevent must work to one bar across the ideological threats. This should apply to all teams and products, including: national, regional and local delivery, referrals and the Channel process, RICU and Homeland Security Analysis and Insight products, training and Prevent- funded counter-narrative work via civil society organisations, and other funded projects.

The bar should not be set so high as to only include concerns related to the most established terrorist organisations, nor so low as to capture mainstream politicians, commentators or publications. Prevent duty guidance should be amended to clarify this new standard.

Progress update

We are clear that Prevent is a counter- terrorism capability, a duty, and that its aim is to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. This is set out in CONTEST 2023, the new Prevent duty guidance, and the new Channel duty guidance.

We have updated the GOV.UK Prevent duty training courses to ensure they use the terminology of Islamist extremism and extreme right-wing, and to make it clear that the primary threat to the UK emanates from Al-Qaeda and Daesh. We have incorporated additional threat information into our new face-to-face training package, which is currently being piloted, and we are developing a dedicated training package on ideology with the support of CCE.

Rigorous criteria for Prevent-funded project activity has been adopted, to ensure that Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are delivering projects that tackle the prevalent terrorist and extremist threats in that area, and that funding is allocated accordingly.

The new Prevent Security Threat Check (see recommendation 12 for details) is now in use across the system, including for all RICU commissions. This makes sure that work is focused on the current threat and proportionate across ideologies. Guidance for RICU analysts has been implemented to ensure this standard is met.

CCE will also have a continued role in ensuring thresholds are being applied consistently and proportionately, across the breadth of Prevent.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 4

Improve understanding of ‘blasphemy’ as part of the wider Islamist threat.

The Homeland Security Group should conduct research into understanding and countering Islamist violence, incitement and intimidation linked to ‘blasphemy’. It should feed a strong pro-free speech narrative into counter-narrative and community project work.

Progress update

CCE has produced an in-depth research paper on Understanding and Responding to Blasphemy Extremism in the UK, which has been shared with policy leads across government to inform work to tackle this threat. A Prevent action plan has been developed to tackle blasphemy where it links to radicalisation to terrorism. This reflects the findings from the research.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), as the lead department for tackling blasphemy, has developed proposals for countering blasphemy extremism. The objective of the proposals is to create a robust framework across government to prevent, counter and respond to blasphemy extremism.

To support and enable CSOs to promote free speech, all CSOs delivering Prevent projects attended an in-depth training session on blasphemy in the UK and western Europe on 31 October 2023.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 5

Explore the prevalence of antisemitism in Channel cases and whether this is reflected in a breakdown of Channel referrals more widely.

Feed these findings into work to disrupt radicalisers and counter extremist narratives. This includes confronting UK extremists supportive of terrorist movements which target Jewish communities (such as Hamas and Hizballah) and addressing the anti-Jewish component of Islamist and Extreme Right-Wing ideology and groups.

Progress update

Homeland Security Analysis and Insight (HSAI) has completed a detailed mixed method research project to assess the prevalence of antisemitism in cases discussed at and adopted by Channel panels.

The findings have informed briefings to Prevent practitioners to help them identify and challenge antisemitic narratives. We have also strengthened the capabilities and capacity of our intervention provider network who directly support people at risk of becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. This has included increasing our cohort of antisemitism specialists to work with individuals on Channel.

We have also increased our analysis of extremist groups, where antisemitism is a feature of their narratives. Our activities in response to the Israel/Hamas conflict have built on this work.

We are taking steps to create mechanisms which will assist ongoing evaluation of antisemitism issues. This will continually improve our understanding of antisemitism and the role it plays in radicalising beliefs.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 6

Revise the Prevent Duty to ensure the scheme meets its revised objectives.

Amend the 2015 Counter Terrorism and Security Act to stipulate that relevant agencies must “have due regard to the need to prevent people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism”.

This alters the current duty to “have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. Amend duty guidance and CONTEST accordingly.

Progress update

We have not yet changed primary legislation to reflect the need to “prevent people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism”.

However, we have made clear wherever possible in the new Prevent duty guidance that came into effect in England and Wales on 31 December, that preventing people from being drawn into terrorism is about stopping them becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. This change is also reflected in CONTEST 2023 published on 18 July 2023, and in all Prevent training, communications, and operational guidance.

As with all legislation, the government will continue to keep the duty in CTSA 2015 under review.

Status: In progress

Recommendation 7

Keep current terminology to describe Islamist and Extreme Right-Wing ideology to ensure language is accurate and accessible for practitioners, public sector staff, and the wider public.

Amend any products, guidance, and training materials to ensure that the use of terminology is consistent across Prevent.

Progress update

As committed to in the government response, we have retained the existing language around Islamist and extreme right-wing ideology. This terminology is reflected in CONTEST 2023, new Channel duty guidance published on 9 October 2023, and the new Prevent duty guidance, which became statutory on 31 December 2023.

In addition, this terminology has been clearly communicated to all local authorities, Counter Terrorism Policing, and Prevent practitioners. We are continuing to reinforce this in every meeting, community engagement, practitioner engagement and in all Prevent products, guidance and training. This ensures all frontline partners have a clear and consistent understanding of the terminology used.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 8

Explore extending the Prevent Duty to immigration and asylum (through UK Border Force, Immigration and Protection Directorate) and to job centres (via the Department for Work and Pensions).

Progress update

We have fully scoped extending the duty to immigration and asylum and Jobcentre Plus (through the Department for Work and Pensions).

We assessed that a voluntary agreement, underpinned by a series of minimum requirements, is the quickest way of driving significantly improved Prevent delivery across both sectors. Work is underway to roll-out Prevent training to these sectors and implement robust Prevent referral pathways.

Alongside this, we will continue to explore the proposed extension of the statutory duty to Jobcentre Plus and Immigration Enforcement. This will require us to secure a suitable statutory vehicle.

We have also delivered a capacity building programme with non-statutory partners through the Prevent Partnership Forum, which met for the fifth time in January 2024. This forum will continue to be held quarterly and support non-statutory partners to embed Prevent throughout their organisations.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 9

Restrict Prevent funding to groups and projects which challenge extremist and terrorist ideology via counter-narratives and activities.

Prevent budgets should not be allocated towards general youth work or community initiatives that do not meet these criteria.

Progress update

CSOs play a vital role in supporting those susceptible to radicalisation. It is right that Prevent project delivery through CSOs is focused on Prevent objectives and that projects explicitly counter radicalisation and challenge extremist and terrorist ideology. We have therefore introduced strengthened criteria and guidance on CSO project activity and funding decisions are now taken by a panel which includes representatives from the Home Office, Department for Education, DLUHC and the CCE.

We have also strengthened our due diligence process and our CSO oversight framework to address concerns about links to extremism. This draws on information from a range of government counter-extremism specialists and all CSO activity is approved by ministers.

To ensure that all projects are delivering effectively, we have developed and implemented a strengthened oversight framework and monitoring and evaluation strategy.

This was developed with input from Home Office performance and analysis specialists as well as the Counter-Extremism Group. The framework will improve the capability of civil society partners to tackle radicalisation risks in communities and improve our understanding of the impact of CSO activities.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 10

Ensure Prevent Disruptions takes action to limit the influence of ‘chronic’ radicalisers and networks which sit below the terrorism threshold.

These actors promote narratives legitimising terrorism and terrorists without breaking the law. Low level but influential groups and activities must have appropriate weighting in prioritisation and risk models.

Progress update

The new Prevent duty guidance that came into force on 31 December 2023, has provided a renewed emphasis on the need for statutory partners to reduce permissive environments where radicalisation flourishes. Partners should have plans in place to disrupt extremism and reduce the impact of extremist ideologies both online and in communities.

The Prevent duty toolkit for local authorities, that was published on GOV.UK on 7 September, assists local authorities in disruptive activity proportionate to the threat in their areas. Prevent monitors and supports them in their efforts to reduce permissive environments, which also includes working with civil society and police to disrupt the activities of those seeking to radicalise people into terrorism.

At the national level, Prevent takes a partnership approach to disrupting those who seek to radicalise others into terrorism, working with a range of government and operational partners.

All disruption activity must be in line with the threat, and so priorities are informed by the Prevent Threat Profile and Security Threat Check.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 11

Move national Prevent delivery to a regionalised model that has consistent lines with the centre of Prevent in the Home Office.

Regional Prevent advisers should sit alongside the same geographic areas as regional counter- terrorism units. Advisers should support, oversee, and guide Prevent delivery within their region and serve as a communication point between central and local government.

Progress update

It is vital that Prevent remains dynamic and able to respond to the evolving threat and risk from radicalisation in the UK, which is not contained within administrative local authority boundaries. We have therefore fully transitioned to a regional model of delivery where the Home Office funds fewer local authorities, and only those with the highest threat, and instead maintains an expert network of Prevent advisers in each region, and devolved administrations. This enables specialist Prevent support to be provided to all local authorities. The Home Office regional network mirrors the geographic coverage of regional police counter-terrorism units.

Home Office Prevent advisers in the regions work with a range of regional partners and local authorities to identify and address radicalisation risks, improve Prevent delivery across the region, provide access to CSO project delivery, and provide surge support in the event of a terrorist-related incident.

Regional Prevent delivery has also been enhanced by the provision of regular briefings on the terrorism threat, ideology, extremism and radicalisers to frontline practitioners. These briefings have helped to further improve and inform Prevent delivery and ensure it is addressing the threat appropriately.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 12

Ensure high level decision-making within Prevent is always informed by proper consideration of the terrorism threat picture.

This should ensure that any action taken is proportionate.

The Homeland Security Group and Counter Terrorism Policing should be guided at strategic leadership level by a new ‘Security Threat Check’ – a series of principles to be included in duty guidance.

Progress update

HSAI developed and delivered the first Prevent Threat Profile in April 2023 which drew on advice and engagement from CCE, DLUHC, the Joint Terrorism Assessment Centre and Counter Terrorism Policing. Security Threat Checks (STC) are conducted against this threat profile.

The STC ensures that all decision- making within Prevent is proportionate and consistent with the threat we face. It comprises a set of principles:

• is this action mindful of the UK’s current terrorism and extremism threat picture?

• is this action proportionate when placed against the UK’s current terrorism and extremism threat picture?

• is this action likely to reduce the threat of terrorism or terrorist-adjacent narratives?

Since May 2023, the STC has been used to underpin decision-making at every strategic Prevent Board. All Prevent policies and analytical products are considered against the STC.

Additionally, the STC was incorporated into the new Prevent duty guidance which came into effect in England and Wales on 31 December 2023, with workshops delivered to sectors on how they can implement it.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 13

Lengthen the Prevent funding cycle to between two and five years in order to better sustain positive local work.

The Homeland Security Group should develop an enhanced evaluation strategy for Prevent- funded projects with a focus on outcomes over activity or outputs.

Progress update

From April 2023, the 20 local authorities with the highest threat received a commitment that they would receive Home Office funding for a minimum of 2 years. This means priority areas can guarantee funding will be provided for a Prevent lead, with additional funding for posts and projects, depending on identified need. We will continue to provide guarantees of multi-year fundingto the local authorities of highest threat to enable them to plan effectively.

We will seek to extend this multi-year funding approach to CSOs once the new CSO monitoring and evaluation framework, which was launched on 2 October 2023, has bedded in. This was developed in partnership with DLUHC and the Counter-Extremism Group, and will strengthen the capability of civil society partners to tackle radicalisation risks in communities.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 14

The Scottish Government should restructure Scottish Prevent in-line with the regionalisation model for England and Wales.

This would move Prevent from the communities and integration agenda towards other strands of CONTEST. The Scottish Government should provide a dedicated Prevent lead, a HE/FE regional co-ordinator, and Prevent-funded projects for the region. Scottish Police should also prioritise enhancing practitioners’ understanding of Scotland’s terrorism threat picture via the dissemination of regular local threat assessments (known as ‘Emerging Threat and Risk Local Profiles’).

Progress update

Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring implementation of the reserved Prevent strategy in Scotland is effective and tailored to the devolved delivery landscape.

Scottish Government had already conducted an internal review of structures and concluded that the team overseeing Prevent delivery would be better located and more aligned with the rest of CONTEST, in the Safer Communities Directorate.

A Home Office Prevent adviser for local authorities in Scotland is now supporting Scottish Government in its work with local authorities to ensure their delivery of Prevent is as effective, and as aligned with best practice in England and Wales as possible.

The Home Office will publish new Scottish Prevent duty guidance shortly, that will closely align to the Prevent duty guidance for England and Wales. We expect the Scottish Prevent duty guidance to become statutory in August 2024 – subject to parliamentary processes.

Scotland already has an equivalent process to the Counter Terrorist Local Profiles (CTLPs) produced in England and Wales, which provides local threat and risk assessment to Prevent partners on an annual basis.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 15

Develop a plan to improve the quality of referrals around revised core objectives.

Referrals should have an identifiable ideological element that is consistent across ideologies. Case management data must record and detail the evidence in each case.

Progress update

A series of steps have been taken to improve the quality of Prevent referrals. The new Prevent duty guidance clearly articulates the importance of ideology and stipulates use of the ‘notice, check, share’ procedure. This has been supplemented by updated and new training products for frontline workers that identify ideology as a key component of radicalisation risk.

A single Prevent national referral form has been rolled-out to all partners to promote consistency. This specifically requests referrers to set out any relevant concerns around extremist ideologies.

We have updated the GOV.UK Prevent page to make clear that referrals should be made where there is a genuine concern of radicalisation, and that ideology should be a critical consideration.

We are using Prevent referral and training data to identify where the quality of referrals is lower, or not in line with the risk in that area or sector. This has enabled us to better target Prevent outreach and training to improve the quality of referrals. We are also using strengthened quality assurance processes and performance monitoring to further drive up standards.

The continued roll-out of the PAF and the mandatory training that accompanies it, also ensures that decision-making on referrals is robust, consistent and evidence-based.

We have developed with partners and frontline practitioners a refreshed list of ideology categories that will be used from 1 April 2024 in the Prevent case management information system. This will provide greater clarity in the data about the ideology of each case. Updated guidance and training will be provided to case officers to ensure accurate recording of data and evidence about ideology. The new ideology categories will be used in the published annual statistics on Prevent from 2025.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 16

Improve Prevent datasets by revising how referrals are categorised.

The Homeland Security Group should consider all options, including delineating and/or removing the ‘Mixed, Unstable or Unclear’ and ‘Other’ strands, against Prevent objectives. The Homeland Security Group should record and publish sector-specific data about Prevent referrals, such as breakdowns within the education sector.

Progress update

We have undertaken a programme of work to improve the categorisation of referrals. This has included completing research to deepen our understanding of how the Mixed, Unclear and Unstable category is used in Prevent casework, and implementing and sharing recommendations with Prevent practitioners and police.

In the last two annual Prevent statistics releases we have delineated the Mixed, Unstable and Unclear category to provide more granular information on concerns.

The refreshed list of ideology categories launched in April in the new Prevent case management system will also be used in the statistical release from autumn 2025.

We are reviewing the data on sectors to explore the feasibility of providing a more granular breakdown on referrals originating from the education sector.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 17

The government should launch new initiatives to encourage referrals from friends, family and community cohorts.

This should include developing an accessible GOV.UK resource signposting reporting mechanisms for radicalisation concerns. These resources ought to be easily reachable through simple online thematic searches.

Progress update

We have implemented a new Prevent Communication and Engagement plan to support friends, family members and those within the community who may be concerned about someone they know being radicalised.

As part of this new plan an accessible Prevent page on GOV.UK has been launched, which provides the public with the information they need to find help should they be concerned that someone they know is being radicalised. This page is refreshed regularly and complements ACT Early that was launched by Counter Terrorism Policing.

Social media content and communication products have also been developed to support local authorities to engage with communities and increase awareness of Prevent within charities and non-statutory partners.

Community engagement is a critical part of the plan with local community-based events taking place throughout England and Wales on a regular basis to help build awareness of Prevent and debunk the myths, whilst improving confidence in the programme.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 18

Counter Terrorism Police should investigate removing referral data for cases that did not make it to Channel, categorised as requiring ‘no further action’, after three years instead of the current six.

This ought to build confidence in making referrals. Scottish Police should consider doing the same with such cases on their national intelligence note system.

Progress update

Counter Terrorism Policing has completed a full review of Prevent data retention policy, including for those referrals marked ‘No Further Action (NFA)’. This included joint consideration by Counter Terrorism Policing and Home Office of options to increase or decrease data retention periods.

We jointly concluded that the risks associated with reducing data retention periods outweighed the benefits. We have therefore retained our current policy of holding Prevent referral data for six years after the point of closure.

Counter Terrorism Policing continues to work with internal experts to ensure that the retention and management of Prevent referral data remains in line with legislation.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 19

Streamline the Channel case management process by testing a hybrid model for referrals, risk assessment and information gathering.

The Police and local authorities would handle referrals simultaneously. Initial discussions with the referee would be carried out by either of these authorities, while the Police would complete risk assessments and information gathering.

Progress update

We have fully transitioned to a single police-led model of Channel case management. This fully addresses concerns raised by the Independent Review of Prevent that local authority-led Channel pilots (called Dovetail) minimised Counter Terrorism Policing’s role in Channel case management, risked under-using the Counter Terrorism Policing skill set and may cause counter-terrorism blind spots.

Local authorities were informed at an early stage of the shift to a single model of Channel delivery from March 2024. This ensured the transition to a police-led delivery model was smooth, planned, and that there was time for Counter Terrorism Policing to build the necessary capacity to take on Channel case management again within these designated locations.

The new Channel duty guidance was published on 9 October 2023, reflecting updates to the CONTEST strategy, and the Prevent duty guidance. The guidance details the operational changes required to panels to reflect the Independent Review of Prevent recommendations, feedback from local and national partners, and draws on national learning to continuously improve Channel. We have also enhanced our training offer and introduced improved tools and mechanisms to further strengthen Prevent.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 20

The Home Office should investigate whether there is an imbalance, or disparity, in thresholds applied to Islamist and Extreme Right-Wing Channel cases, and if so why.

Examine whether Islamist referrals tend to be individuals much further along the trajectory towards violence (‘active risk’, at a sub-Pursue level), compared to referrals where individuals present a susceptibility to radicalising influences or extremist exploitation (‘passive risk’).

Progress update

We have completed detailed analysis to investigate if there is a disparity in thresholds applied to Islamist and extreme right-wing cases during Channel panel decision making. This analysis concluded that there is not a disparity in decision making across Channel panels across England and Wales.

We have taken a range of steps to ensure this remains the case including increasing quality assurance of Channel panel decision-making and strengthening Channel duty guidance, that was published on 9 October 2023.

We are now going further than the recommendation suggests by conducting analysis to determine if there is any disparity in thresholds applied to cases with Islamist and extreme right-wing concerns earlier in the Prevent process, when referrals are first received and assessed. This work will continue through 2024.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 21

Commission for Countering Extremism to review all Prevent advisory boards and panels to ensure membership includes necessary, credible and impartial expertise on extremist ideology.

The relevant government minister should sign off all membership and terms of reference. The Commission for Countering Extremism should oversee Prevent products informed by consultation with advisory boards, such as those used to identify and assess risk.

Progress update

We have worked to strengthen independent and external input into the way Prevent delivers its work. Advisory groups and panels can help us do that by drawing on advice from independent experts with practical experience of delivery, including those with expertise of the ideological drivers of terrorism.

In November 2023, a new Prevent policy for advisory groups was implemented with clear steps to be taken when considering whether an advisory group is required. This includes ministerial agreement of membership and terms of reference. It also stipulates the need for CCE engagement on membership of groups and oversight of any materials produced.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 22

Develop a new training and induction package for all government and public sector staff working in counter-extremism and counter-terrorism.

Training should focus on improving understanding of the ideological nature of terrorism, including: worldviews, objectives and methodologies of violent and non-violent extremist groups, grievance narratives and issues exploited by terrorist recruiters and extremists.

Progress update

Significant progress has been made to develop and upgrade the training offer for Prevent staff and frontline workers subject to the Prevent Duty. Prevent online training packages on GOV.UK were updated in August-October 2023 to draw out the importance of ideology and to help frontline workers spot the signs of radicalisation.

CCE has developed a specialist ideology training package for Prevent practitioners and government staff working on terrorism and extremism matters. This provides specialist training on Islamist ideology, extreme right-wing concerns, and associated issues such as antisemitism. This training is now being rolled out across the regions.

A new Prevent face-to-face training package for frontline staff is also being piloted before being rolled out nationwide in May 2024. This includes bespoke ideology training developed with the support of CCE. It will improve the understanding of the ideological nature of terrorism of frontline staff subject to the Prevent Duty.

To support the delivery of this recommendation, DLUHC launched ideology and extremism teach-ins between September 2022 and May 2023. Phase I of the training sessions is now complete, Phase II will be rolled out in Spring 2024.

This recommendation will be fully complete in May 2024 when the new face-to-face training package is rolled-out.

Status: In progress

Recommendation 23

Ensure Prevent training upholds a consistent and proportionate threshold across ideological threats and avoids using double standards.

For example, training materials should not focus on violent extremism for one ideology, while focusing on non-violent extremist narratives for another. Non-violent extremism should be included in training as it creates a permissive environment for radicalisation and recruitment into terrorism.

Progress update

We have reviewed the full range of guidance and training products available, with a specific focus on consistency across how extremist ideologies feature in these products. All Prevent training on GOV.UK was updated by October 2023 to reflect the need for consistency and proportionality when dealing with different types of ideological concern.

This has also been clearly embedded in the new face-to-face training package that is currently being piloted with public sector workers. This training includes specific materials on extremist ideologies which has been developed in conjunction with experts in CCE. This will ensure that local areas, sectors or organisations can gain an understanding of the threats that are most relevant to them and reflects the threat from both violent and non-violent extremism.

Finally, the Prevent duty guidance sets out the expectation that all sectors under the Duty play a role in reducing permissive environments where non-violent extremism flourishes and risks people being radicalised into terrorism.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 24

Training for Prevent, Channel, and public sector staff subject to the duty should include clear guidance on how and when to make appropriate referral decisions.

Training must clearly specify new Prevent thresholds and the requirement to ensure referrals have an identifiable ideological element and terrorism risk. Thresholds and decision-making must be implemented consistently across all ideological threats.

Prevent staff should be informed about how guidance materials disseminated by politicised third parties may have a detrimental influence on Prevent delivery.

Progress update

We have updated existing Prevent and Channel training on GOV.UK to reflect the importance of ideology when considering whether to make a referral, and to emphasise that people may be susceptible to terrorism without the presence of wider vulnerabilities. The new face-to-face and ideology training will further embed the role of ideology in radicalisation and how to make an appropriate referral. CCE ideology training is currently being rolled out, and the new face-to-face training package will launch in May 2024. This recommendation will be complete once the new face-to-face training package launches.

The new Prevent duty guidance that came into effect in England and Wales on 31 December 2023 clearly articulates the importance of ideology and maintaining a consistent threshold across all ideologies.

The new PAF that is being rolled-out is central to ensuring thresholds and decision-making are implemented consistently across all ideological threats. This will support police to assess more confidently, robustly and consistently, which cases should progress to Channel panels. It will also inform panels which cases should be adopted, directing the provision of Channel support.

Status: In progress

Recommendation 25

Ensure Prevent does not fund, work with, or consult with extremism-linked groups or individuals, and applies the same thresholds for non-engagement across ideologies.

Training should include engagement process and principles, and a due diligence function to assess risk attached to engagement decisions. As a broader matter of principle, government as a whole must ensure it neither funds, works, or consults with extremism-linked groups or individuals.

Progress update

We have strengthened our systems, processes and oversight of Prevent funding to ensure that we do not fund, work with or consult with groups or individuals who have concerning links to extremism.

The due diligence process for Prevent-funded initiatives has been strengthened with the support of CCE and other government counter-extremism experts. This includes in-depth extremism checks for all organisations that work with Prevent. A new code of conduct has been introduced that stipulates the standards and behaviours expected of Prevent delivery partners, and the disciplinary measures that may follow should an organisation fall short of our expectations.

DLUHC is also leading work to develop a new cross-government approach to these issues.

Additionally, we have updated all Prevent training and guidance products to clearly set out the requirement for due diligence to be conducted when working with or funding external providers to identify extremist concern.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 26

Professionalise and build in-house expertise in frontline and central Prevent.

Prevent must become less reliant on consultancy and public relations firms, and build capacity within RICU and the Homeland Security Group to fulfil some of the most sensitive functions that are outsourced to private companies.

Progress update

We have developed and implemented a Prevent Professionalisation Plan, in conjunction with CCE, to upskill officials working on Prevent. This makes Prevent e-learning and CCE ideology training mandatory for all Home Office staff working in Prevent alongside a requirement for all new joiners to complete an overhauled induction programme. Additionally, we have developed bespoke commercial and communications training for relevant officials.

We have brought in-house the work that was previously undertaken by external agencies, including management of the Home Office-funded CSO network and due diligence checks. We have also implemented a new process for decisions to outsource work to external organisations.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 27

Review Prevent-related staffing and training in prisons.

Seek to increase expertise and skills with regard to understanding the ideological drivers and theological elements of radicalisation. HMPPS staff must adopt a ‘precautionary policy’ when assessing the risk of ideologically- driven offenders.

(In addition to the Independent Review of Prevent recommendation, this responds to Jonathan Hall KC’s recommendation that “all staff, including governing governors and line managers, should have regular training on terrorist risk in the prison estate based on concrete examples.”)

Progress update

We have developed a new counter-terrorism training package for all prison and probation staff that will increase staff skills and expertise in spotting the signs of radicalisation, using training videos to highlight the key ideological drivers we see in prisons and probation. A range of subject matter experts from HMPPS, Home Office, CCE and partner agencies have been involved in the development of this new training. This will be piloted shortly prior to a full roll-out in 2024.

We have also created a new codified list of terrorist risk behaviours, giving staff concrete examples to help identify and drive down radicalisation risk. The behaviours, along with guidance on what immediate action staff should take if prisoners exhibit them, are included as part of the new counter-terrorism training package.

All formal assessments of terrorist risk, through the Extremism Risk Guidance tool, are now either written or reviewed by registered psychologists with training on extremism or counter-terrorism probation officers.

In progress

Recommendation 28

Higher education staff responsible for authorising on-campus events with external speakers should be provided with training on how to manage and assess risk.

Where necessary this should include conducting effective due diligence checks, and guidance on how to balance statutory obligations under the Prevent Duty with the legal requirement to protect freedom of speech.

Progress update

DfE has continued to foster constructive relationships with higher education providers through national conferences and regional networks and forums to share good practice, including on speakers and events.

DfE commissioned independent research to understand the training needs of the higher education sector on how they manage and assess the risk of external speakers. This was shared with DfE in January 2024 and work is underway to address the findings.

A cross-government steering group has been established and continues to review the evidence on how best to support the higher education sector manage and assess risk posed by extremist speakers, whilst also balancing their legal duties on freedom of speech.

We have updated the Prevent duty guidance for England and Wales to reflect the expectation that staff responsible for authorising on-campus events should be provided with training.

DfE will also be issuing further guidance or training once the main provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 come into force in August 2024.

CCE completed research into the radicalisation pathways of higher education students and the findings will be shared with DfE in February. This will inform DfE’s approach to supporting the sector assess the risk of students being drawn into terrorism.

The Office for Students will consider the findings of the Independent Review of Prevent, including whether greater weight should be placed on additional independent assessments of compliance, when it formally reviews its monitoring framework.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 29

The Home Office should implement a further due diligence procedure around the recruitment of intervention providers.

This involves a comprehensive assessment of social media accounts and other public platforms to ensure the authenticity of views presented throughout the recruitment process.

Progress update

Intervention providers are vital to Prevent and work directly with Channel participants to help reduce their risk. Strengthened due diligence processes for intervention providers are now in place that includes police checks, extremism checks and mandatory government security clearance. Independent scrutiny is also provided by CCE.

We have issued robust guidance to intervention providers that sets out clear expectations of the behaviours and conduct we expect, and of the disciplinary procedures in place should any fall short of these expectations.

Additionally, a robust professionalisation programme is in place for all intervention providers that includes mandatory training in extremist ideologies, terrorist threat, and a range of other skills.

CCE have also used intervention providers as critical friends in the development of its ideology training, due to the ideological and theological expertise they have and their expertise in deconstructing extremist narratives.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 30

Establish a dedicated unit within the Homeland Security Group to rapidly rebut misinformation about Prevent and challenge inaccuracies via traditional and social media.

The unit should co-ordinate with government departments to produce national resources for civil society organisations and Prevent delivery partners in local communities. These resources should tackle myths about Prevent and defend the practitioners who help protect communities.

Progress update

In May 2023, we set up a dedicated joint Prevent communications team, in conjunction with central strategic communications experts, to tackle inaccurate claims about Prevent, equip partners and stakeholders to challenge Prevent myths and related extremist narratives, and rapidly rebut misinformation/ inaccuracies by the media or on social media. The team has delivered:

• an internal Prevent Communications Strategy to drive public trust and confidence in Prevent

• social media content that has been provided to charities, statutory and non-statutory partners that will help us reach wider audiences

• a communications toolkit for all partners (both statutory and non-statutory) to enable frontline partners to demonstrate the work of Prevent and directly challenge myths and misconceptions

• leadership of a cross-government Prevent communications network

Status: Complete

Recommendation 31

RICU should equip Prevent practitioners with better information about extremism- linked campaigns to undermine their work.

This should include information about the networks involved and narratives used. Prevent-funded civil society organisations should be supported and encouraged to use this information to publicly challenge those who promote disinformation in an effort to undermine Prevent.

Progress update

We have enhanced our monitoring and analysis of non-violent extremism-linked individuals, groups or organisations that seek to undermine the work of Prevent.

RICU has developed a product titled Anti-Prevent Narratives and Disinformation, which has been issued quarterly – beginning in May 2023.

In addition, HSAI issued a detailed study in June 2023 on Islamist groups that work to undermine Prevent. These products were quality assured by CCE.

Alongside these products, the Prevent Communications and Rapid Rebuttal Team have shared top lines and key narratives with frontline practitioners to support their efforts to counter this campaign.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 32

Prevent-funded civil society organisations and counter-narrative projects should take on extremism-linked activists who seek to demonise the scheme.

Civil society organisations should be ready and able to challenge and expose groups which promote disinformation about Prevent, particularly through media and social media campaigns.

Progress update

We are working with CSOs to further enhance their capability to counter those that demonise Prevent and to counter extremist narratives in communities. This has included delivering information sessions on blasphemy and antisemitism, as well as the launch of social media content to help CSOs reach wider audiences.

We have also shared analysis with CSOs on radicalisers and extremists to build their knowledge base and capability to tackle these narratives head on. These products are designed to support Prevent delivery partners to counter disinformation and to ensure that their activity focuses on radicalisation risks.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 33

Develop specific measures to counter the anti-Prevent campaign at universities.

Higher and further education co-ordinators should work closely with institutional safeguarding leads to co-ordinate activities for students and staff which directly take-on and challenge disinformation about Prevent.

The Department for Education should develop a network of speakers who are able to speak to students and staff about counter- radicalisation work and its benefit.

Progress update

We continue to welcome open debate, critical thinking, and free speech on Prevent and ways we can safeguard individuals susceptible to radicalisation in higher education. DfE held a national conference for Prevent leads in March 2023 to support the sector to have the confidence and tools to challenge disinformation about Prevent that may be harmful to identifying individuals at risk. Another conference is planned for April 2024.

To better understand how anti-Prevent disinformation can be challenged, research was completed in January 2024.

The findings will inform the development of higher education-specific content (guidance, promotional products, training materials) aimed at those who are most likely to identify radicalisation concerns, and challenge inaccurate perceptions of Prevent.

DfE has developed a new network of over 20 speakers who champion Prevent in higher education. This consists of academics, experts, former extremists and survivors of terrorism who can support providers with challenging conversations with staff and students. Details of this network, in addition to resources, training, and guidance to support challenging disinformation about Prevent are hosted on the updated GOV.UK collections page.^{[footnote 10]}

DfE will fund Resilience in Unity, an organisation amplifying the voices of survivors of terrorism, facilitating discussions on counter-radicalisation via direct engagement with students in higher education. This project aims to deliver up to 20 engagements in 2024/25. In addition, DfE has piloted an approach to engage with student bodies to discuss how Prevent is implemented in higher education and will continue to support Prevent leads to have these discussions with institutions.

Status: Complete

Recommendation 34

Create a new standards and compliance unit answerable to ministers on the Prevent oversight board.

The purpose of the unit should be to process and investigate complaints from Prevent practitioners and the wider public. Ministers can task the unit to conduct specific investigations and a summary of findings following investigations should be made public. The Home Office should develop proper process and procedure for when agencies, or institutions, consistently fail to adequately uphold the duty.

Progress update

The reinvigorated Prevent Ministerial Oversight Board (MOB), which is chaired by the Security Minister, met in November 2023 and will now convene bi-annually. The MOB increases oversight of Prevent, enables a truly cross-government approach to Prevent and is a clear decision-making forum.

The new Prevent Standards and Compliance Unit (StaCU) will launch on 28 February. It will sit outside of Prevent policy and operations and receive complaints from the public on Prevent, triage them, and work with the Home Office and specified authorities to investigate them appropriately. The public can reach StaCU via a website and email.

The StaCU will report directly to the MOB, with updates on trends in complaints received and action taken. The MOB can direct StaCU to undertake specific investigations into areas, trends, or when there are concerns over a sector’s adherence to the Prevent Duty.

The StaCU will publish its findings annually to ensure transparency.

Status: Complete

1. Antisemitic incidents – 13 December update – Blog – CST – Protecting Our Jewish Community (https://cst.org.uk/ news/blog/2023/12/13/antisemitic-incidents-13-december-update) ↩

2. Counter-terrorism strategy (CONTEST) 2023 – GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ counter-terrorism-strategy-contest-2023) ↩

3. Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/6/contents/enacted) ↩

4. Independent Review of Prevent’s report and government response – GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/independent-review-of-prevents-report-and-government-response) ↩

5. Prevent duty guidance: for England and Wales (2023) – GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance) ↩

6. Prevent duty training – GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-duty-training) ↩

7. Channel duty guidance: Protecting people susceptible to radicalisation – GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/channel-and-prevent-multi-agency-panel-pmap-guidance) ↩

8. Counter-terrorism strategy (CONTEST) 2023 – GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/counter-terrorism-strategy-contest-2023) ↩

9. Prevent duty guidance: for England and Wales (2023) – GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance) ↩

10. The Prevent Duty in higher education (HE): training and guidance for practitioners – GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/the-prevent-duty-in-higher-education-he-training-and-guidance-for-practitioners) ↩