The Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (CTSA 2015) states local authorities have "due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism".
The purpose of the PREVENT Operational Group is to satisfy the statutory functions of the Local Authority under the CTSA (2015) to ensure the safeguarding of those at risk of extremism and radicalisation in our local community, and to ensure coordinated partnership work around Prevent, at an operational level.
The Groups Key Responsibilities include:
1. Deliver Prevent priorities on behalf of Redcar & Cleveland Council/Community Safety Partnership.
- Establish an internal group to identify risk factors, agree appropriate responses, co-ordinate Prevent activity and effectively monitor the impact of Prevent work.
- Drive the development and delivery of the Operational Prevent Plan to comply with the duty to identify, prioritise and facilitate delivery of projects and activities to reduce the risk of people being drawn into terrorism.
- Develop local processes to ensure the safeguarding of those at risk of extremism and radicalisation.
- Contribute to, and utilise the Counter Terrorism Local Profiles.
- Coordinate a Middlesbrough wide training package to raise awareness, identify champions and enable those with who are at risk of being drawn into terrorism to be identified at an earlier stage.
- Agree collaborative actions to achieve partnership objectives.
2. Comply with the legal requirements of:
- Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
- Local Government Act 1972
- Local Government Act 2000
- National Health Service Act (NHSA) 2006 and Health and Social Care Act (HCSA) 2001
- Offender Management Act 2007
- Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015
3. Set targets and monitor and challenge performance
- Agree Partnership targets within the PREVENT Operational Group and monitor and challenge performance against agreed targets, PREVENT related action plans and other key partner performance indicators i.e. Probation Service, YOS, Neighbourhood Policing, reporting back to the Prevent Operational Group on an exceptions basis. All minutes /action plan documentation to be retained for Home Office and Ofsted inspection purposes.
4. Work with community partners
- To work collaboratively with community partners, ensuring that the key priorities are met through the joint strategic needs assessment/ strategic assessment, CTLP and other related strategies and promote community cohesion and strengthening communities' resilience against extremism.
The PREVENT operational group meet monthly with a membership including Local Authority Community Safety, Safeguarding, YOS, Public Health, Stronger Communities, Community Regeneration, Probation & Police as well as occasional invited partner agencies.
PREVENT Operational Group members are responsible for reporting back to their respective departments, organisations and relevant governance arrangements.