Prevent Referral Pathway

What is prevent?

Prevent is about safeguarding people and communities from the threat of terrorism.

Prevent is one pillar of contest, the UK Government's counter-terrorism strategy.

The Prevent pathway "notice - check - share" aims to Safeguard and Support, in particular to ensure vulnerable people who may be drawn into terrorism are safeguarded and offered appropriate advice and support.

Front line staff can play a crucial role in recognising when a vulnerable person is being exploited or radicalised. Early identification is vital to enable the appropriate agencies to divert these individuals away from this radicalisation process.

Prevent Referral Pathway

1. Each agency has the responsibility of ensuring that their frontline staff are able to notice possible signs of radicalisation and know what to do and who to go to if they have a concern.
2.  Each agency should also ensure that there are safeguarding leads or champions in place so that if someone within their own agency has a concern, but needs further advice or guidance, they have someone to go to check. Such arrangements should be aligned with current child and adult protection guidance for staff.
3. If having discussed these possible signs of radicalisation with a safeguarding lead or champion, it is agreed these concerns could be valid, the frontline staff member and safeguarding lead or champion should share their concerns with Police.

•  To do this, please download and complete the SVT National Referral Form (Aug 2024) (Word doc, 121 KB) and return it directly to Police Scotland using email PreventReferrals@scotland.police.uk (monitored 24/7)
•  For support whilst filling in the form, please call: 01236 814585/8141/4902/4544 (business hours)

        4. If there is concurrent adult or child protection concerns they should be made to the D&G's Single Access Point via 030 33 33 3001 and a Senior Social Worker will consider whether referral into D&G's Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) is required.

Prevent Mult-Agency Panel (PMAP)

The Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2025 legally requires Dumfries and Galloway Council to have a Prevent Multi-Agency Panel (PMAP) in place with the sole purpose of providing support to those individuals who are identified as being vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.

If on assessment of all information gathered, including the information from the National Prevent Referral Form, Police Scotland may determine a PMAP is appropriate.

Police Scotland's Prevent Delivery Unit West will notify the Council Prevent Single Point of Contact (SPoC), who will alert the Chief Social Work Officer (CSWO) who will appoint a PMAP Chair and notify appropriate Panel Members.

When a case is determined to be suitable for management through PMAP the consent of the individual concerned is required.

What does a Prevent Mult-Agency Panel meeting aim to do?

• Provides practical help and arranges appropriate support programmes including; counselling, faith guidance, civic engagement, diversionary activities, working with support networks, mainstream services and/or specialist intervention providers.
• Support is always tailored to specific needs of the individual at risk.

Accountability

The Chief Social Work Officer is overall accountable for the PMAP process and reports directly to the Chief Executive.

Approved by CSWO - 18 August 2023

Document Controlled by Dumfries and Galloway Council appointed Prevent SPoC