Prevent
Radicalisation is defined as the process which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies associated with terrorist groups.
There is no obvious profile of a person likely to become involved in extremism or a single indicator of when a person might move to adopt violence in support of extremist ideas. The process of radicalisation is different for every individual and can take place over an extended period or within a very short time frame.
Extremism is vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
Violent extremism is a real threat to all communities – violent extremists actively aim to damage community relations and create division. That is why it is vital that we all work together to support those who are vulnerable in this way.
What is terrorist material?
- Articles, images, speeches or videos that promote terrorism
- Chat forums with postings calling for people to commit acts of terrorism or violent extremism
- Content encouraging people to commit acts of terrorism
- Websites made by terrorist organisations
- Videos of terrorist attacks
Recognising extremism – signs may include:
- Out of character changes in dress, behaviour and peer relationships
- Secretive behaviour
- Losing interest in friends and activities
- Showing sympathy for extremist causes
- Glorifying violence
- Possessing illegal or extremist literature
- Advocating messages similar to illegal organisations such as Muslims Against Crusades or other non-proscribed extremist groups such as the English Defence League
Supporting children and young people to stay safe – tips for parents
- Know where your child is, who they are with and check this for yourself
- Be aware of your child’s friends and their families
- Keep lines of communication open, listen to your child and talk to them about their interests
- Encourage them to take up positive activities with local groups that you can trust
- Talk to your child about what they see on the TV or the internet and explain that what they see or read may not be the whole picture
- Allow and encourage debate and questioning on local and world events and help them see different points of view
- Encourage your child to show an interest in the local community and show respect for people from all faiths and backgrounds
- Help your child to understand the dangers of becoming involved in situations about which they may not have the full information
- Teach them that expressing strong views and trying to change things for the better is fine but they should not take violent action against others or support those that do
- Be aware of your child’s online activity and update your own knowledge
- Know what social media and messaging sites your child uses
- Remind your child that people they contact over the internet may be pretending to be someone else or telling them things that are not true
- Explain that anyone who tells them to keep secrets from their family or teachers is likely to be trying to do them harm or put them in danger
Keeping children and young people safe
The parent/child relationship is the foundation to keeping children safe and supporting their social development and educational attainment.
Parenting can be a challenging task. Maintaining a positive relationship can sometimes be difficult as children grow and develop and seek an identity that may be different from that of their own family.
Children and young people have a natural curiosity which, as parents and carers, we want to encourage. However, as our children grow up we have to take different steps to ensure their safety.
Currently, a number of young girls and boys from across the UK have been persuaded to leave the country against the wishes of their families, or in secret, putting themselves in extreme danger.
Why might a young person be drawn towards extremist ideologies?
- They may be searching for answers to questions about identity, faith and belonging
- They may be driven by the desire for ‘adventure’ and excitement
- They may be driven by a need to raise their self-esteem and promote their ‘street cred’
- They may be drawn to a group or individual who can offer identity, social network and support
- They may be influenced by world events and a sense of grievance resulting in a need to make a difference
How might this happen?
Online
The internet provides entertainment, connectivity and interaction. Children may need to spend a lot of time on the internet while studying and they use other social media and messaging sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Vine or Whatsapp. These can be useful tools but we need to be aware there are powerful programmes and networks that use these media to reach out to young people and can communicate extremist messages.
What can I do to prevent this?
You can make the Internet safer for your family by restricting access to risky sites. You can also report extremist content that you find online.
All the major Internet Service Providers (such as Sky, BT, Talk Talk and Virgin Media) offer security and parental control packages. These services let you control or block access at home to specific sites or types of content, such as chat rooms, as well as protecting your computer from viruses and other people accessing your personal data. Contact your Internet Service Provider for more information.
More information
There is a lot of advice on how you can protect your family from unsuitable content on the internet. A good place to start is:
www.ceop.police.uk – informationHelp and advice about internet safety
www.gov.uk/report-terrorism – report online terrorist material.
Peer interaction
Young people at risk may display extrovert behaviour, start getting into trouble at school or on the streets and mixing with other children who behave badly. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes those at risk may be encouraged, by the people they are in contact with, not to draw attention to themselves. As part of some forms of radicalisation parents may feel their child’s behaviour seems to be improving: children may become quieter and more serious about their studies; and mix with a group of people who seem to be better behaved than previous friends.
TV and media
The media provide a view on world affairs. However, this is often a very simple version of events which are in reality very complex. Therefore children may not understand the situation fully or appreciate the dangers involved in the views of some groups.
Getting help and prevention
If you have any concerns that your child may be being influenced by others get help – talk to someone you can trust. If you feel there is a risk of a child leaving the country, consider what precautions you could take to prevent travel. You should also consider what access your child has to saving accounts or gifts of money from family and friends. You might want to consider taking the precaution of locking their passport in a safe place.
Confidential helpline
Anyone with concerns for the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person can contact:
Anyonymous reporting
https://www.gov.uk/report-terrorism
Crimestoppers anonymously and for free on 0800 555 111
iREPORTit app
Leeds Prevent team
CTP NE Prevent Team Telephone: 0113 241 3386
If there is an immediate threat of harm to others or information on imminent travel contact the Police 999 or Anti-Terrorist Hotline:
You can remain anonymous, and you may save lives.
Report terrorism online via: www.gov.uk/report-terrorism
Further sources of support and information
If you have a concern, please contact the Academy and request to speak with a member of the Safeguarding Team or the Schools Safer Police Officer, PC Groves. Additional support and guidance for parents/carers and pupils includes:
SG1@oa.catrust.ukEducate against hate - https://www.educateagainsthate.com/
Childnet: Trust me - https://www.childnet.com/resources/trust-me/
UK Safer Internet Centre - https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/parents-and-carers
Parent Zone - https://parentzone.org.uk/
Fake News: 4 quick checks - https://saferinternet.org.uk/blog/
NSPCC - https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/
Childline: worries about the world - https://www.childline.org.uk/
BBC Bitesize: Fact or fake? https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/
Thinkuknow: the education programme from NCA-CEOP - https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/
Other Organisations:
Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Peace Foundation
A charity that works nationally and internationally for peace and non-violent conflict resolution. It runs a number of projects including training for pupils and teachers.
Useful documents:
Extremely Together
This guide is a result of the project Extremely Together managed by the Kofi Annan Foundation. It brings together ten exceptional young leaders discussing how to prevent violent extremism.
Expert Subject Advisory Group for Citizenship. Published by the Association for Citizenship Teaching (2015) The Prevent Duty and teaching controversial issues: creating a curriculum response through Citizenship
Resources on counter-extremism and preventing radicalisation - The London Grid for Learning (LGfL). The resources have been developed in collaboration with the Department for Education (DfE), the Home Office and school practitioners and extremism experts and are designed to help staff safeguard pupils from extremism. It includes videos on topics including: the grooming process; a whole-school approach; and understanding vulnerability.
Policies
