Prevent Key Principles - Guidance update
Following the tragic attack in Southport in August 2024, the Prevent system has been under significant pressure with the number of referrals increasing substantially. Part of the reason for this has been a lack of clarity on the thresholds within which Prevent operates, particularly in relation to cases related to 'fascinated with extreme violence or mass casualty attacks'.
To support frontline professionals and practitioners the Home Office has brought together existing guidance into the attached Key Principles of Prevent document, alongside FAQ’s and case studies (Documents translated into Welsh will be available shortly). Please feel free to share these with colleagues and local partners.
The Key Principles do not introduce new policies or expectations but clarify practices that have been operational since 2019. The Key Principles have been widely tested with Prevent practitioners and frontline professionals and are drawn directly from existing guidance and training. For professionals and practitioners already working within Prevent, these principles will be familiar.
Prevent’s core aim is unchanged: to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It is, and always has been, an early intervention programme, designed to offer timely support to those at risk of being drawn in to terrorism.
The Key Principles set out that, while ideology is an important consideration, it is not mandatory for a Prevent referral. However, where there is not a concern that someone may be drawn into terrorism, alternative local support services should be considered. Further information has been provided in the accompanying FAQs.
The Home Office will be providing further briefings between now and the end of the year, including at the Prevent Conference for Local Authority Prevent leads in October, virtual briefings commencing in late October/November, and at regional network meetings.