Any member of staff or learner with Warwickshire Group Training Association Limited who has any concerns regarding the issues identified within this guidance policy should report those concerns immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Person who is

 RAJINDER CHIBBRA

This policy will be reviewed and updated annually by Warwickshire GTA.

Reviewed and updated December 2021

Reviewed and updated December 2022

Reviewed and updated December 2023

Signed                     Date 15/12/2023

(Training Director)

       

INTRODUCTION

The current threat from Terrorism and Extremism in the United Kingdom is real and severe and can involve the exploitation of vulnerable people, including children and young people.  This policy is designed to provide a clear framework to structure and inform our response to safeguarding concerns for those young people who may be vulnerable to the messages of extremism.  It also provides details of appropriate intervention and Channel processes.

Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a legal duty on education and training establishments, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.

Radicalisation is defined as the process by which people come to support terrorism and extremism and, in some cases, to then participate in terrorist groups.

Extremism is vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.  We also include in our definition of extremism, calls for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country of overseas (HM Government Prevent Strategy 2011)

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & COMMUNITY COHESION

Warwickshire Group Training Association aims to guide its learners to understand others, to promote common values and to value diversity.  Also, to promote awareness of human rights and of the responsibility to uphold and defend them, and to develop the skills of participation and responsible action.  We take very seriously our key role in preparing all our young people for life in modern Britain.

We aim to encourage our learners to work towards a society with a common vision and sense of belonging by all.  Communities: a society in which the diversity of people’s backgrounds and circumstances are appreciated and valued; a society in which similar life opportunities are available to all and a society in which strong and positive relationships exit and continue to be developed in the workplace and in the wider community.

NATIONAL GUIDANCE AND STRATEGIES

 PREVENT is a key part of the Government’s strategy to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.  Early intervention is at the heart of PREVENT in diverting people away from being drawn into terrorist activity.  PREVENT happens before any criminal activity takes place.  It is about recognising, supporting and protecting people who may be susceptible to radicalisation.

The PREVENT strategy objectives are:

Ideology           responds to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it

Individuals       prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are given the appropriate advice and support

Institutions       work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation which we need to address

ALL STAFF SHOULD HAVE AN AWARENESS OF THE PREVENT AGENDA AND THE VARIOUS FORMS OF RADICALISATION TAKES IN BEING ABLE TO RECOGNISE SIGNS AND INDICATORS OR CONCERNS AND RESPOND APPROPRIATELY

 VULNERABILITY/RISK INDICATORS

 The following lists are not exhaustive and all or none may be present in individual cases of concern.  Nor does it mean that vulnerable young people experiencing any of these factors are automatically at risk of exploitation for the purposes of extremism.  There is an accepted view that a complex relationship between the various aspects of an individual’s identity determines their vulnerability to extremism.

Vulnerability

Identity crisis:              Distance from cultural/religious heritage and uncomfortable with their place in the society around them

Personal crisis:            Family tensions; sense of isolation; adolescence; low self-esteem;

disassociating from existing friendship group and becoming involved with a new and different group of friends; searching for answers to questions about identity, faith and belonging

Personal                     

circumstances:             Migration; local community tensions, events affecting country or region of origin; alienation from UK values; having a sense of grievance that is triggered by personal experience of racism or discrimination or aspects of Government policy

 

Unmet Aspirations:      Perceptions of injustice; feeling of failure; rejection of civic life

Criminality:                  Experiences of imprisonment; poor resettlement/reintegration; previous involvement with criminal groups

Access to extremist influences

Reason to believe that the young person associates with those known to be involved in extremism

Possession of distribution of extremist literature/other media material likely to incite racial/religious hatred or acts of violence

Use of closed network groups via electronic media for the purpose of extremist activity

Experiences, behaviours and influences

 Experience of peer, social, family or faith group rejection

International events in areas of conflict and civil unrest had a personal impact on the young person resulting in a noticeable change of behaviour

Verbal or written support of terrorist attacks

First-hand experience of racial or religious hate crime

Extended periods of travel to international locations known to be associated with extremism.

Evidence of fraudulent identity/use of documents to support this

Experience of disadvantage, discrimination or social exclusion

History of criminal activity

Pending a decision on their immigration/national status

 More critical risk factors include:

            Being in contact with extremist recruiters

Voicing support for extremist causes or leaders

Accessing extremist websites, especially those with a social networking element

Possessing extremist literature

Justifying the use of violence to solve societal issues

Joining extremist organisation

Significant changes to appearance/behaviour

Referral and Intervention Process

Any identified concerns as the result of observed behaviour or reports of conversations to suggest that a young person supports terrorism and/or extremism must be reported to the named safeguarding person immediately.

Where a young person is thought to be in need/or at risk of significant harm, and/or where investigations need to be carried out the designated Safeguarding person will refer to the relevant

Child Protection Officer/Local Authority Work Related Team.

However, it should be noted that concerns of this nature, in relation to extremism, are most likely to require a police investigation (as part of the Channel process) therefore the designated safeguarding person will contact  Safer Neighbourhood Team, Leamington Police Station on 01926 684248  Email: prevent@warwickshireandwestmercia.pnn.police.uk

All issues and referrals must be recorded and reviewed to monitor and evaluate outcomes. Prevent is discussed with learners and employers during progress reviews and workplace visits. Recent issues are discussed to help enhance and develop their understanding of the risks associated with, radicalisation, extremism and online activity. The Prevent Policy is accessible on our website and it is discussed in depth during Induction, with on-going awareness training. We also issue a leaflet with information and guidance.

Channel referral process

Some concerns which are identified may have a security dimension to them.  For this reason, it is important that liaison with the police forms an early part of all investigations.  Warwickshire Police will carry out an initial assessment and, if appropriate, set up a multi-agency meeting to agree actions for supporting the individual.  If it is deemed that there are no concerns around radicalisation, appropriate and targeted support will be considered for the young person.

BRITISH VALUES

As of 27^th November 2014, the Department of Education told all Schools to promote British Values, these values are now assessed by Ofsted within their Common Inspection Framework for Training providers.

The Fundamental British Values are:

• Democracy,
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith

By embracing these values, it should

• Enable learners to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self- confidence
• Enable learners to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England
• Encourage learners to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in their locality and the wider society
• Enable learners to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England.
• Further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling learners to appreciate and respect their own and other cultures
• Encourage respect for other people
• Encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England

The Governance Board and Training Director have responsibility of ensuring that this policy is reviewed and updated annually and communicated to staff, with their involvement in the action plans and compliance of the policy guidelines. All staff have had training through the College of Policing and completed the Channel General Awareness module.

For further information or enquiries:        Email: contact@garagetraining.com

Tel. 01926 428490