Preventing Radicalisation

With increasing concerns about the radicalisation of young people, there is a need to actively challenge extremist views and prevent young people being drawn into terrorism. Keeping children safe from harm includes keeping them safe from extreme ideologies and behaviours. 

As organisations working with children and young people, we must have an awareness of the potential influences of extremist ideology and the risks of radicalisation. This means knowing the children and young people you work with well, and understanding the dynamics of peer groups, their families and the local community (see contextual safeguarding). 

To counter the risks, we can promote positive discussion and adoption of the fundamental values of tolerance, respect, liberty and the rule of law through role-modelling and direction. 

The government strategy to combat terrorism is known as CONTEST. Within this wider strategy is the Prevent duty which has three specific strategic objectives: 

• tackle the ideological causes of terrorism; 
• intervene early to support people susceptible to radicalisation; 
• enable people who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate. 

The government defines extremism as: “the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance that aims to:

1. negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or
2. undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; or
3. intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2).”

New definition of extremism (2024)

Terrorist groups often draw on extremist ideology. Some people who join terrorist groups have previously been members of extremist organisations and have been radicalised by them. 

Additional vulnerabilities

All children and young people are at risk, regardless of age, social class, religion, ethnicity or educational background. However, certain children are more vulnerable to radicalisation, including those who are: 

• struggling with a sense of identity and belonging; 
• becoming distanced from their cultural or religious background; 
• questioning their place in society; 
• having family issues; 
• experiencing/have experienced a traumatic event; 
• experiencing mental ill-health; 
• experiencing racism or discrimination; 
• having difficulty interacting socially and lacking empathy; 
• not always understanding the consequences of their actions; 
• presenting with poor self-esteem. 

Prevention 

Settings should create an environment where radicalising ideologies are challenged and are not permitted to flourish. Settings should have measures in place to prevent their facilities being exploited by radicalisers, including ensuring that IT equipment is not being used to access/facilitate the spread of extremist narratives which encourage people to participate in or support terrorism, and assessing the potential risks of external speakers expressing such narratives. Filtering and monitoring systems should be regularly reviewed and updated. 

The Prevent duty 

Prevent work is intended to deal with all kinds of terrorist threats to the UK. The most significant of these threats is currently from terrorist activity linked to far right and Islamist extremists who pose a continued threat to our safety and security. There is also concern about other extremist groups, for example, extreme left-wing, environmental extremism, antisemitism, and extreme misogynist ideology. 

Our responsibilities 

• Settings should have a designated lead in a senior management role who is responsible for delivering Prevent. 
• Settings should ensure that staff receive appropriate training (DSLs and/or Prevent leads should receive more in-depth training). 
• We must ensure that there is reference to radicalisation as part of wider safeguarding duties. 
• We must assess the risk to individual children as well as cohorts within settings. 
• We must report concerns when necessary, co-operate with local authority-led Channel panels, and engage with other partners, such as the police and Prevent leads in local authorities. 
• We should build resilience to radicalisation through the curriculum and promotion of fundamental British values. 

We must be able to evidence safeguarding arrangements to promote pupils’ welfare and prevent radicalisation and extremism. 

The Prevent programme provides training for frontline professionals to help them understand and implement the Prevent duty and protect vulnerable children in their care. (See resources section below.)