Counter Terrorism and Prevent Duty

Prevent is the "Safeguarding" arm of the government's counter terrorism strategy. Under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, a duty was placed on Lancashire County Council / public authorities to prevent people from being drawn into terrorist activity, known as the "Prevent Duty". The aim is to protect people and communities from harm (extremist activity) or abuse (radicalisation).

Section 26 of the Act states that local authorities must, in the exercise of their functions, have ‘due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’. Local authorities and their partners therefore have a statutory role to play in countering terrorism at a local level and helping to safeguard individuals at risk of radicalisation.

Prevent is in place to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. The three objectives of Prevent are to:

• tackle the ideological causes of terrorism. 
• intervene early to support people susceptible to radicalisation.
• enable people who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate.

For further information please see the Prevent Duty and Prevent referrals intranet page and the Prevent Duty pages on C-First.

Tom Sweeney, Corporate Counter Terrorism Manager - thomas.sweeney@lancashire.gov.uk   01772 531388 or 07814 071549.