Prevent aims to reduce the threat to the UK from terrorism by stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. This is known as radicalisation. Early intervention is key. It looks at safeguarding adults and children and diverting them from being drawn into terrorist activity.
Prevent is one of the key pillars of the Government's counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST. Its aim is to reduce the risk from terrorism in the UK, so that people can go about their lives freely and with confidence.
Friends and family are best placed to spot the signs, so trust your instincts. More important than any one specific sign is the sense that something is not quite right with the person you are worried about.
What signs should I look out for?
Radicalisation is the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies. There is no single route to radicalisation; it can happen to anyone of any age, social class, religion, ethnicity or educational background. However, there are certain behaviours you can watch out for. These behaviours include:
- Being influenced or controlled by a group
- Mental health issues - this can make them more vulnerable
- Spending an increasing amount of time online and sharing extremist views on social media
- Looking to blame others
What should I do?
If you are worried someone close to you is becoming radicalised, act early and seek help. The sooner you reach out, the quicker professionals can protect the person you care about from being groomed and exploited by extremists.
To find out more about how to help someone close to you, visit Act Early or call the ACT early support line on 0800 011 3764. You can share your concerns with specially trained officers, in confidence. Lines are open 9am to 5pm every day. In an emergency dial 999.
How do I report terrorist or violent extremist content?
If you see terrorist or violent extremist material or online content that supports, directs, or glorifies terrorism, you should report it. You can report things like:
- Articles, images, speeches or videos that promote terrorism or encourage violence
- Websites made by terrorists or extremist organisations
- Videos of terrorist attacks
Visit the Government's Report online material promoting terrorism or extremism webpage to submit an online report. You do not need to give your name or contact details.
How do I report suspicious activity?
If you've seen or heard something that could potentially be related to terrorism, trust your instincts and report it. Your actions could save lives. Every year thousands of reports from the public help the Police to keep communities safe from terrorism. It only takes a moment to make a report online, through Action Counters Terrorism.
You can also report suspicious activity by contacting the Police in confidence on 0800 789 321. In an emergency dial 999.
What are the different types of threats and risks?
Prevent addresses all forms of terrorism. Most of its resources and efforts, however, are allocated on the basis of threat to our national security.
- Islamist Terrorism
- This can be described as terrorist violence motivated by a political ideology seeking the imposition of Sharia Law and the establishment of an Islamic Caliphate.
- While Islamist terrorism takes many forms, the principle threat to the UK comes from Salafi-Jihadists.
- Extreme Right-Wing Terrorism
- This describes those involved in Extreme Right-Wing activity who use terrorist violence to further their ideology. These ideologies can be broadly characterised as;
- Cultural Nationalism
- White Nationalism
- White Supremacism
- Unlike Islamist terrorist groups, Extreme Right-Wing terrorists are not typically organised into formal groups with leaderships and territorial ambitions. They are mostly informal online communities with international links.
- This describes those involved in Extreme Right-Wing activity who use terrorist violence to further their ideology. These ideologies can be broadly characterised as;
- Left-Wing, Anarchist and Single-Issue Terrorism
- This currently represents a significantly smaller terrorist threat to the UK than Islamist terrorism or Extreme Right-Wing terrorism. It's not currently present in the UK at any significant scale.
- The majority of related activity in the UK has consisted of lawful protest. Where these have involved violence, it has resulted in offences relating to public order.
Prevent also tackles other ideologies and concerns that may pose a terrorist threat. This can include those they deem as having 'a fascination with violence'. Established terrorist narratives exhibit common themes such as antisemitism, misogyny, anti-establishment, anti-LGBT grievances, and religious or ethnic superiority.
Local Prevent Delivery in Fife
While Prevent is a national strategy, it is delivered locally by a wide range of partners across Fife.
Section 26 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 placed a duty on specified agencies to have "due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism".
We have a Prevent Team who deliver local Prevent projects and training to our staff. We also have a Prevent Multi Agency Panel with local partners from a range of agencies. We assess any Prevent referrals received in Fife and ensure the appropriate support is provided.
