Councillors updated on Hertfordshire's strategy to reduce the threat of terrorism

Hertfordshire County Councillors have been given an update on a strategy aimed at reducing the threat of terrorism.

A report to the Community Safety and Waste Management Cabinet Panel stated that public bodies have a duty under the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.” This is generally referred to as the ‘Prevent Duty.’

The Prevent Strategy was published by the government in 2011 and refreshed in 2018. It is part of the counter terrorism strategy, CONTEST.

The aim of the Prevent Strategy is to reduce the threat to the UK from terrorism by stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

It states that “safeguarding vulnerable people from radicalisation is no different from safeguarding them from other forms of harm.”

There are three specific strategic objectives: tackle the causes of radicalisation and respond to the ideological challenges of terrorism; safeguard and support those most at risk of radicalisation through early intervention, identifying them and offering support; enable those who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate.

A report of the director of community protection Darryl Keen provided members with a Prevent Duty update at the panel meeting on Tuesday, February 9.

The report stated there has been a decrease in referrals which reflects the national picture as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions.

It states: ‘the threat however remains real and a lack of visibility due to lockdown measures limiting the amount of contact between professionals and vulnerable people is a genuine concern and may be masking the true picture. Recent Prevent data from the Counter Terrorism Local Profile highlights there is increased activity across the region in relation to the following risks: LASIT (Left, Anarchistic, Single Issue Terrorism); Far right/right wing extremism; Islamist extremism; conflicted ideology.'

The report stated: ‘Hertfordshire has also seen a significant increase in Prevent referrals with a mental health vulnerability present. The Hertfordshire Channel Panel, which deals with specific cases identified as needing direct intervention, has strong links with health partners and recently conducted a review of closed Prevent cases at the request of the Home Office after the Reading terrorist attack to further consider the relevance of mental health in relation to Prevent.’

The county council has employed a Prevent programme manager. Sophie Lawrence started her post on April 1, last year.

She said: “Currently in the UK and across other areas of the globe, we are responding to a rise in the threat from the extreme right wing also some more new complex mixed narratives that the Home Office deems mixed, unclear and unstable.

“These two areas are of particular concern for our young people especially during the pandemic, being online mostly and the vulnerabilities of our young people on line. And also the conspiracy theories that are being used around COVID-19.

“We have seen a significant increase in Prevent engagement from partners. We have seen partners revamping their whole staff training in their districts or in their organisations through to delivering Prevent specific workshops.

“We have seen some really high quality Prevent delivery plans being written up, established and executed as well.”

Future projects include a roll out of Prevent training to all schools in the county and alternative learning providers, internal and external communication strategies will be developed with Hertfordshire Constabulary and more community based work.