Datalaw Prevent Policy

Datalaw Prevent Policy and Guidance

Section 1 – Introduction, Purpose and Legal – Datalaw is committed to safeguarding learners, apprentices and staff from radicalisation and extremism. Prevent is embedded within our wider safeguarding framework and organisational culture, ensuring all staff understand their responsibilities in identifying and responding to concern.

1.1 The Prevent Duty

The Prevent duty was established by the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (CTSA 2015) and places a duty on specified authorities, including education and training providers, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.” This policy reflects the Prevent Duty Guidance (2023) and subsequent Home Office Updates and incorporates the Prevent Duty Guidance 2023 and subsequent Home Office guidance.

Datalaw has adopted the Prevent Duty (2023) in accordance with legislative requirements, with the aim of maintaining a safe, healthy and supportive learning and working environments for all learners (including apprentices) and staff. Datalaw understands that updated guidance focuses particularly on tackling the ideological causes of terrorism; and providing support both nationally and regionally.

Datalaw recognises the importance of promoting and reinforcing fundamental British values; safeguarding learners, apprentices, staff and visitors from the risk of radicalisation, extremism or terrorism; and fostering an ethos of shared responsibility, respect, equality, diversity and inclusion.

Datalaw recognises that extremism and exposure to extremist materials and influences can lead to poor outcomes for apprentices and learners. If we fail to challenge extremist views, we are failing in our duty to protect them from potential harm.

Prevent is one of the four strands of the UK government’s counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST: Prevent – to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism; Pursue – to stop terrorist attacks; Protect – to strengthen protection against attack; Prepare – to mitigate the impact of an attack.

1.2 Purpose of this Policy

The purpose of Datalaw’s Prevent Policy is to ensure awareness of Prevent among all staff, apprentices and learners; understand and manage risk, including undertaking appropriate risk assessments and training; provide a clear framework to structure and inform Datalaw’s response to potential radicalisation, including a supportive and proportionate referral process for those who may be susceptible to extremist messages; provide a framework to embed British values into the curriculum, organisational culture and ways of working; recognise potential risks and ensure that current practice supports the Prevent agenda; and develop and maintain a Prevent action plan to identify areas for further improvement and monitor progress.

This policy is a stand-alone document but is integral to Datalaw’s Safeguarding Policy and should be applied as an extension of Datalaw’s established safeguarding procedures.

1.3 Underpinning Legislation and Guidance

This policy is underpinned by, and should be read in conjunction with, the following: Prevent Duty Guidance (2023); Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015; Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT 2000) and subsequent legislation; Equality Act 2010; and relevant local safeguarding children and adult guidance.

Key external resources include (non-exhaustive) the Prevent Duty Guidance (2023) – Home Office; Act Early (https://actearly.uk/); the Prevent & Channel factsheet (2023) – Home Office; and Educate Against Hate (https://www.educateagainsthate.com/). Datalaw will work within the guidance from the Home Office and ensure that additional guidance is used to inform safe practice across the organisation.

1.4 Equality and Protected Characteristics

This policy sits alongside the Equality Act 2010, which recognises the following Protected Characteristics: age discrimination; gender reassignment discrimination; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation; and disability discrimination. Datalaw also recognises the impact of socio-economic disadvantage and promotes equality of opportunity. Datalaw promotes respect, equality and diversity and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment or victimisation.

1.5 Definitions (as used in Prevent)

For the purposes of this policy, Datalaw adopts the commonly used Prevent definitions:

• Ideology – A set of beliefs, principles and objectives.
• Radicalisation – The process by which a person comes to support terrorism and forms of extremism that may lead to terrorism.
• Safeguarding – The process of protecting vulnerable people from crime, abuse, neglect or from being drawn into terrorism-related activity.
• Terrorism – An action that endangers or causes serious violence, damage or disruption and is intended to influence the government, or to intimidate the public or a section of the public, with the intention of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause (as summarised in TACT 2000).
• Vulnerability – Factors and characteristics associated with being susceptible to radicalisation.
• Extremism – The promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance that aims to negate or destroy fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or undermine or overturn the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy rights.

These definitions sit alongside the broader explanatory terms in the Glossary (Section 6).

Section 2 – Aims, Objectives and Scope

2.1 Strategic Aims

Within the national CONTEST framework, the Prevent objectives are to tackle the ideological causes of terrorism; intervene early to support people who are susceptible to radicalisation; and enable people who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and be rehabilitated.

Datalaw supports the Prevent agenda by tackling the ideological causes of terrorism through education, challenge and critical thinking; providing practical help to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensuring appropriate advice and support is available; working with a range of sectors and partners where there are risks of radicalisation, including other education providers, criminal justice, faith communities, the internet, health services and local authorities; and understanding regional and local risks and ensuring that both staff and learners are made aware of the risks in their communities where appropriate.

This is achieved by promoting core values of respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, democratic participation and learner voice; building staff and learner understanding of national and local issues through mandatory staff training, specialist tutorials and awareness campaigns; and actively working with external partners and public services, including Prevent teams, safeguarding boards, police, and local authority Prevent leads.

2.2 Scope

This policy applies to all Datalaw staff, including Board members, permanent, temporary, sessional and associate staff; all learners and apprentices, regardless of age, background or mode of study; all contractors, visitors, external speakers (Datalaw will undertake appropriate due diligence before approving external speakers or events to ensure they do not promote extremist views, and where necessary the Prevent Lead will review proposed speakers and ensure any risk is mitigated); and any other individuals engaged in Datalaw activities or on Datalaw premises (including online learning platforms).

Datalaw provides services to learners aged 16 and over, including those from ethnically diverse and socially/economically disadvantaged communities. The age and profile of our learners mean that Prevent is a key part of our safeguarding and wellbeing duty.

Section 3 – Training, Awareness and Risk Management

3.1 Training and Awareness

Datalaw ensures that staff and learners are appropriately informed and trained in relation to Prevent.

Staff:

• All new staff undertake Prevent training as part of their induction.
• Prevent/counter-terrorism is included within the broader safeguarding remit.
• Training is provided via online recorded webinars and other suitable formats.
• All staff and Board Members are required to complete full PREVENT Training every three years and gain annual updates on safeguarding, Prevent and equality/diversity training.
• All staff are expected to understand the Prevent duty and their role in it; different extremist ideologies that can lead to terrorism; the risks of radicalisation and how to recognise signs of concern; how to make a Prevent referral that is informed and proportionate; and the support and interventions available.

Learners/Apprentices:

• Prevent awareness is embedded into induction, tutorials and ongoing learning, including explanation of British values; discussion of safeguarding and how to seek help; and awareness of online safety and extremism.

Datalaw maintains appropriate records (e.g. a training register) to demonstrate that staff and Board members have completed Prevent-related training and updates.

3.2 Managing Risk and Responding to Events

Datalaw will ensure it understands and manages the risks of radicalisation and extremism by assessing risk at national, regional and local level, considering the specific context of our learners and provision; maintaining a Prevent Risk Assessment and Action Plan which is reviewed at least annually by senior leadership and the Board; monitoring relevant local, national and international events that may impact learners or communities and responding appropriately; identifying, understanding and managing potential risks within Datalaw and from external influences, including online influences; ensuring plans are in place to minimise the potential for acts of violent or non-violent extremism within Datalaw; ensuring measures are in place to respond appropriately to a threat or incident, including liaison with police and local authorities; and ensuring online safety forms part of Prevent awareness so learners are supported to recognise online misinformation, extremist narratives and harmful content. Any concerns related to radicalisation will be managed as safeguarding concerns and dealt with in accordance with guidance from Regional Prevent Coordinators and Local Authority Prevent Leads.

3.3 Reducing Permissive Environments

Datalaw is committed to ensuring that neither its physical nor online environments become “permissive environments” for extremist ideologies. This includes limiting exposure to radicalising materials and individuals; ensuring Datalaw systems (including online platforms) are not used to host or disseminate extremist or terrorist content; challenging extremist views, including those involving misogyny, anti-Semitism, racism, homophobia, transphobia and other forms of hate; and exercising due diligence when working with external organisations, including ensuring that Prevent resources or partnerships do not support groups whose views encourage or support terrorism.

Section 4 – Leadership, Roles, Responsibilities and Partnerships

4.1 Prevent Lead

Datalaw promotes a culture where staff and learners feel confident to report concerns and where concerns are taken seriously and acted upon proportionately.

Prevent Lead for Datalaw: Catherine Heys

The Prevent Lead is responsible for ensuring that this Prevent Policy is implemented across Datalaw; reviewing the risk levels across the organisation and ensuring these risks are mitigated (e.g. staff training, briefings, procedures); ensuring that all new staff receive Prevent training at induction and that training is refreshed regularly; providing advice and guidance to staff on Prevent-related concerns; liaising with external agencies (e.g. police Prevent teams, local authority Prevent leads, safeguarding partners) and sharing concerns where appropriate; and ensuring concerns are recorded in line with Datalaw’s safeguarding procedures and data protection obligations.

4.2 Board Responsibilities

The Board has ultimate responsibility for ensuring Datalaw meets its Prevent duty. Board members must undertake training in the Prevent duty; ensure that policies and procedures to implement Prevent are in place, regularly reviewed and acted upon; and assure themselves that all staff have undertaken Prevent and safeguarding training, know when and how to refer concerns to the Prevent Lead, and understand and exemplify British values in their teaching and professional conduct.

4.3 Staff Responsibilities

All staff, regardless of role, have a responsibility to create and support an ethos that upholds Datalaw’s mission, vision and values, including British values, to create an environment of respect, equality, diversity and inclusion; attend and complete Prevent training and refreshers, so they have the skills to recognise those who may be vulnerable to radicalisation or involved in violent/non-violent extremism; report any concerns around extremism or radicalisation via Datalaw’s safeguarding reporting channels and to the Prevent Lead; support the development of staff and learner understanding of issues around extremism and radicalisation, including participating in awareness activities and tutorials; and engage, where appropriate, with external organisations and partners in relation to Prevent and safeguarding.

4.4 External Partners and Regional Coordination

Datalaw will work actively with external partners, including local authority Prevent leads and safeguarding teams; the police and local Prevent/Channel teams; other education and training providers; and national and regional bodies, as appropriate.

North West Prevent Coordinator: Concerns may be escalated to regional or local Prevent coordinators via the Prevent Lead, as appropriate.

Section 5 – Teaching, Learning, Curriculum and Support

5.1 Teaching, Learning and British Values

Datalaw will encourage all staff and apprentices/learners to promote a positive ethos across the learning environment. This will be achieved by embedding British values, equality, diversity and inclusion, well-being and community cohesion throughout the curriculum; promoting wider skills such as social and emotional learning, critical thinking and resilience; adapting the curriculum, where relevant, to challenge extremist narratives and promote universal rights and responsibilities; using teaching, learning and assessment strategies that explore controversial issues safely, encouraging critical analysis and respectful debate; and encouraging active citizenship and supporting the learner voice in decision-making and feedback.

To ensure staff and apprentices are prepared to manage the risks of extremism, Prevent-related training is provided via online recorded webinars and is a key component of staff and learner induction, and Prevent/safeguarding topics are revisited through updates, CPD and tutorials.

Resilience to extremist narratives will include promoting spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development within the curriculum; creating an atmosphere of openness and safety so learners and staff feel able to discuss sensitive topics and concerns; identifying individuals likely to be susceptible to terrorist or radical ideology; maintaining awareness of behavioural changes that may indicate radicalisation; ensuring clear protocols for early intervention; and maintaining robust reporting procedures and support for staff and learners.

5.2 Student/Learner Support

Datalaw seeks to ensure staff are confident to take both preventative and responsive steps, working with partner professionals, families and communities. This includes providing strong and accessible learner support services; listening to what is happening within Datalaw and in the wider community through feedback, tutorials and other mechanisms; implementing anti-bullying strategies and challenging discriminatory behaviour; ensuring learners and staff know how to access support within Datalaw and/or through external partners; supporting problem-solving and restorative approaches where appropriate; supporting at-risk learners through safeguarding and crime-prevention processes; and focusing on reducing attainment gaps and promoting success for all learners.

5.3 Identifying Potential Signs of Radicalisation

Research indicates there are possible indicators that someone may be being radicalised. Indicators include, but are not limited to, use of inappropriate or hateful language; an increase in extreme views relating to a social group, sector or government policy; downloading, viewing or sharing extremist propaganda or material; becoming withdrawn or isolated from friends, family or colleagues; increasing intolerance of different views or an unwillingness to engage with people of different faiths, ethnic backgrounds or beliefs; noticeable changes in appearance or behaviour; and expressing a desire or intent to support or take part in terrorist activities. Datalaw staff are expected to report any such concerns promptly via safeguarding channels and record incidents or patterns of concern on the appropriate Datalaw management system.

Section 6 – Support, Referrals, Channel and Safeguarding

6.1 Support and Referral Process

Datalaw has a clear process for reporting concerns related to radicalisation or extremism:

1. Staff should report concerns to the Prevent Lead or DSL using Datalaw’s safeguarding procedures.
2. The Prevent Lead/DSL will assess the information, consult as necessary, and decide whether a Prevent referral or other safeguarding referral is required.
3. Where appropriate, referrals will be made using the local Channel/Prevent referral pathway, typically via the local Prevent team or coordinator.

Referrals will usually include how and why Datalaw became concerned; details of specific events or incidents; relevant indicators (e.g. language, behaviour, associations, social media usage); any known vulnerabilities, additional needs or safeguarding concerns; and information on discussions with the learner and, where appropriate, parents/carers. Any incidents that are reported will be referred to the local Prevent Coordinator using the Channel programme, where external agencies will assess the level of threat/risk and determine appropriate advice, support or intervention.

6.2 Prevent, Channel and Wider Safeguarding

Datalaw recognises that safeguarding thresholds do not need to be met for a Prevent referral, and that Prevent/Channel work often overlaps with broader safeguarding duties. Datalaw will integrate Prevent referrals with wider safeguarding frameworks for children and adults; work with local authority social care and other partners to provide holistic support; and recognise that Channel is voluntary, confidential and aimed at early intervention.

Section 7 – Glossary (Summary of Key Terms)

(This section summarises key terms; see Section 1.5 for definitions and the Prevent guidance for full detail.)

• Extreme Right-Wing Terrorism (ERWT) – Terrorist activity motivated by extreme right-wing ideologies, often including cultural nationalism, white nationalism and white supremacism.
• Having due regard – The obligation for specified authorities to give appropriate weight to the need to prevent people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
• Ideology – A set of beliefs, principles and objectives.
• Interventions – Tailored support packages designed to divert people away from extremist activity and support disengagement from terrorist ideologies.
• Islamist terrorism – Terrorism motivated by a particular extremist interpretation of Islam, as distinct from the peaceful practice of the religion.
• Left-Wing, Anarchist and Single-Issue Terrorism (LASIT) – Terrorism associated with extreme left-wing, anarchist or single-issue causes.
• Online radicalisation – Radicalisation where the internet plays a key role (exposure to extremist content, online communities, etc.).
• Permissive environment – An environment where harmful or extremist ideologies are allowed to flourish unchallenged.
• Prevention (in this context) – Reducing or eliminating the risk of people being radicalised.
• Radicalisation – The process through which a person comes to support or use terrorist violence.
• Specified authority – Bodies listed in Schedule 6 CTSA 2015 to which the Prevent duty applies.
• Susceptibility – Likelihood that someone may be influenced or harmed by extremist ideologies, which may or may not be linked to other vulnerabilities.
• Terrorism/Terrorist-related offences – As defined in relevant legislation, involving violence or serious harm to advance a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.
• Vulnerability – Being in need of special care, support or protection due to age, disability, or risk of abuse/neglect.

Section 8 – Who to Contact if You Have Concerns

If you have concerns that an individual may be being drawn into or supporting extremism or terrorism, follow Datalaw’s internal safeguarding/Prevent procedures and contact the Prevent Lead / DSL as soon as possible.

Datalaw Prevent Lead
Name: Catherine Heys
(Internal contact details to be communicated via Datalaw’s staff and learner systems.)

Where internal escalation is not possible or there is an immediate risk of harm:

• National Police Prevent Advice Line: 0800 011 3764
• Police (non-emergency): 101 – ask for the local Prevent team
• In an emergency where there is immediate risk to life: 999

North West Prevent Coordinator
Contact: Claire Little
Email: claire.little@education.gov.uk

Further general information: UK Government Prevent Duty Guidance and resources; Act Early (https://actearly.uk/); Educate Against Hate (https://www.educateagainsthate.com/).

Appendix 1

Reviewed Date	12th March 2026	Next Review Due Date	12th March 2027
Reviewed by	Sharon Parsons	Signature	S E Parsons

Datalaw 2025    Datalaw Prevent Policy    DPP048