Prevent/Channel Referral Process via the National PREVENT Referral Form

National Prevent Referral Form Professionals can access a word version of this form on TRIX

The 'Prevent Duty’ established under the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 requires responsible authorities to 'have due regard to the need to prevent individuals from being drawn into terrorism in the exercise of their duties'. This includes those working with children and young people as well as those working with adults.

This duty includes ensuring that those working with children, young people and adults:

are trained to understand the risk of terrorism in the local area.
able to identify when an individual is susceptible to radicalisation
know what to do once that risk is identified by making a referral through the Prevent/ Channel process.

Statutory Prevent Duties can be found here: Prevent duty Guidance: England and Wales 2023

Statutory Channel Panel Duties can be found here: Channel and Prevent Multi-Agency Panel (PMAP) Guidance

Prevent Referral

Making a referral

If there is a reason to believe that a child, young person or an adult is susceptible to radicalisation, associates with those known to be involved in extremism either because they associate directly with known individuals or via online material, there is a need to refer to PREVENT.

All Referrals should be made to the Counter Terrorism Police using the National Referral Form. National Prevent referral form. and sent to prevent@merseyside.police.uk NB if you are unable to use the PDF format you can access a word version here: Prevent National Referral Form.

Once received by the Counter Terrorism Police, they will undertake initial Information Gathering and may contact you for additional information. The Police will then commence background checks and send a Vulnerable Persons Assessment Form (VPA) to either Adults or Childrens Social Care.

Following receipt of the VPA, Adults/Childrens Contact teams will review and open a Safeguarding Concern.

Who can be referred

Prevent/ Channel aims to safeguard children and adults of any faith, ethnicity or background before their vulnerabilities are exploited by those that would want to cause them or others harm.

There is no single way of identifying who is likely to be susceptible to being drawn into radicalisation. Factors that may have a bearing on someone becoming susceptible may include: peer pressure, influence from other people or via the internet, bullying, crime against them or their involvement in crime, anti social behaviour, family tensions, race/hate crime, lack of self esteem or identity and personal or political grievances.

Everyone is different, and there is no checklist that can tell us if someone is being radicalised or becoming involved in terrorism. But these signs may mean someone is being radicalised:

accessing extremist content online or downloading propaganda material
justifying the use of violence to solve societal issues
altering their style of dress or appearance to accord with an extremist group
being unwilling to engage with people who they see as different
using certain symbols associated with terrorist organisations

Referrals should contain concerns based on a person's susceptibility to radicalisation and should not be because of the person's faith or ethinc origin. Ideally, the person considering making the referral will be the designated safeguarding officer for their organisation and have a good understanding of Safeguarding and Prevent / Channel.

Get help for radicalisation concerns

When to complete an adult referral form

The National Referral Form is to be used for people who are below and over 18 years old.

You do not need an adult's or parental consent to complete a referral.

If you have immediate concerns contact the Police.

Notice

Those who work in frontline support roles will often be the first to notice if someone displays concerning behaviour, like the signs of radicalisation outlined in this guide. If you notice behaviours that cause you concern, then you may want to consider whether the person is susceptible to radicalisation.

There could be many different reasons for these behaviours, not just radicalisation. It's important to understand the context, and why these changes are happening, before jumping to any conclusions.

Check

You may wish to discuss your concern organisationally, with the person responsible for safeguarding, such as the designated safeguarding lead. Checking before sharing a concern is a way of making sure you have gathered as much relevant information as possible before making your referral.

Once you have gathered the relevant information, it is essential to share a concern and make a referral to the police use the National Referral Form and send it to prevent@merseyside.police.uk If you are unable to use the PDF format you can access a word version here Prevent National Referral Form.

In some cases, you may do this directly. Sometimes, where appropriate, the organisational safeguarding lead of equivalent, or the local authority may do this on your behalf.

Professionals can complete the Prevent duty training to find out more.

Members of the public should continue to use the ACT Early Website if they are worried that somebody they know could be being radicalised.

If there is a Prevent concern, the Police will complete necessary security checks. Once completed the Police may refer the case for consideration at the multi-agency Cheshire East Channel Panel.

The Cheshire East Channel Panel

The role of the Cheshire East Channel panel is to develop an appropriate support package to safeguard those who are susceptible of being drawn into extremism based on an assessment of their vulnerability. The panel is made up of a number of professionals with safeguarding experience from a variety of organisations and services including children and adults safeguarding, education, health, and Cheshire Police.

If you are worried about someone being radicalised you can find more information and help on the Home Office website.