Extremism and radicalisation

The current threat from terrorism in the United Kingdom includes the exploitation and radicalisation of children, young people & adults to involve them in activities supporting terrorism.

Radicalisation of children and young people should be viewed as a safeguarding concern and approached in the same way as we safeguard children from other risks.

The Sheffield Children Safeguarding Partnership (SCSP) guidance provides a framework for professionals where there are concerns that children and young people are at risk of being radicalised into terrorist activity and provides a mechanism for assessment and support.

People can be susceptible to radicalisation for many reasons depending on their personal circumstances, including safeguarding vulnerabilities. Some of the common signs of radicalisation include:

Becoming more secretive – internet use
Developing a fixation on a particular subject
Accessing extremist websites and social media
Possessing material or symbols associated with an extremist cause
Criticising alternative views and opinions, and being closed to new ideas
Expressing thoughts about harming others

More details around the signs of radicalisation are covered in Prevent training.

Children Vulnerable to or from Extremism in the SCSP Child protection and Safeguarding Procedure Manual

3.4.3 Children Vulnerable to or from Extremism Procedure

National guidance

Prevent Duty Guidance - Statutory guidance for agencies from the Home Office.
Trust Your Instincts and Report | Action Counters Terrorism - Support for family and friends including how they can raise concerns.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-if-you're-worried-about-someone-being-radicalised - National public facing guidance around Prevent.
https://educateagainsthate.com/ - Resources and support for teachers & parents.
https://www.support-people-vulnerable-to-radicalisation.service.gov.uk/ online Prevent training.

Local resources

Preventing terrorism | Sheffield City Council – Information about the local response to Prevent

To contact the Sheffield City Council Prevent Team please E-mail: prevent@sheffield.gov.uk

Prevent training

The responsibilities of agencies to provide Prevent awareness training to their staff are set out in the Prevent Duty Guidance (Education settings are covered in section 156-160).

Section 117 of the Prevent Duty Guidance states, “It is recommended that those with Prevent-specific responsibilities refresh their training at least every two years, enabling them to support others on Prevent matters and update them on relevant issues. This could include the trends in the annually published Prevent referral statistics, local referral trends and emerging issues, relevant local or regional incidents and radicalising influences, or new resources and training materials.”

Training resources:

Home office Prevent e-learning modules - Prevent duty training - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Sheffield City Council Prevent Team offer Prevent Briefings twice a term for school leaders and DSL’s - Learn Sheffield | By Sheffield. For Sheffield. In Collaboration
Multi agency Prevent training through the Safeguarding Partnership - Sheffield Adult Safeguarding Training (sheffieldasp.org.uk)
Sheffield City Council staff can book on to instructor-led ‘Prevent Awareness’ training through the Go learn portal.

How to make a Prevent referral

NOTICE, CHECK, SHARE

Discuss your concerns through your internal safeguarding processes, with a colleague or your line manager. If you still have PREVENT concerns and wish to discuss further or escalate, contact:

South Yorkshire Police Prevent Team Tel: 0114 2964801 (8.00am–4.00pm)/via 101 preventsouth@ctpne.police.uk

In an emergency (where yours or others safety is threatened) call 999.

Make mainstream safeguarding referrals in addition if wider vulnerabilities are present - Referring a safeguarding concern to Children’s Social Care