New Prevent guidance published

The government has published refreshed draft Prevent duty guidance, along with a statutory instrument laid in the House of Commons to bring it into force under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act.

The guidance delivers on several recommendations from the independent review of Prevent and includes practical advice for those with responsibility to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

The guidance is aimed at frontline professionals in healthcare, education, local authorities, prisons, probation and the police.

Home secretary, Suella Braverman, said: "Terrorists seek to destroy the freedoms and values we cherish. It is the duty of government to disrupt this enduring and evolving threat.

"Ongoing improvements to Prevent are paving the way for a stronger, more transparent and proportionate approach to tackling radicalisation in this country. This includes ensuring that we are no longer working with or funding groups who legitimise extremists.

"The updated Prevent duty guidance provides frontline professionals in education, healthcare and local government with a renewed focus as well as new tools and information to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism."

The government has also announced that it is on track to deliver the majority of the recommendations from the Prevent review by 2024. Ten of the 34 recommendations have been delivered in full and progress has been made against all of the others. 68 out of 120 tasks have been completed.

New training on the ideological foundations of extremism and terrorism is being rolled out throughout the country and terminology has been updated in the guidance throughout to reflect an individual’s susceptibility to terrorism and vulnerability will only be used where appropriate.

Delivery of Prevent has also changed from a national to a regional model, which provides support for all local authorities in England and Wales. The areas with the highest radicalisation risk will also receive multi-year funding to combat the local threat.

Education secretary, Gillian Keegan, said: "Our schools are committed to protecting pupils from radicalisation and extremist influences, and this guidance along with the support of frontline workers will be pivotal to achieving that.

"These changes will provide greater clarity, practical advice and access to best practice for all teachers and education settings."