Middlesbrough Council takes the safeguarding responsibilities of Prevent seriously. The council coordinates a Prevent operational group to ensure that statutory obligations under the Counter Terrorism Security Act (2015) are met.
The Prevent operational group meets every 2 months to discuss regional risk, and develop and lead on plans to reduce that risk. The group also promotes the safeguarding nature of Prevent to professionals and the wider community.
The group is responsible for achieving the yearly statutory requirements to ensure awareness training, promotion of referral pathways, and promotion of national awareness campaigns. These include Act Early, Act Now, and educational programmes from recognised providers like Educate Against Hate and UK Safer Internet.
The group is also responsible for engaging with the Prevent agenda on behalf of the local authority, and promoting Prevent via roadshows, round table events, training, promotion of appropriate awareness material via social media, and Q&A sessions.
The group's actions are governed by the Community Safety Partnership, local Contest board, and the Home Office Prevent team.
The operational group members include:
- Middlesbrough Council services:
- Community Safety
- Safeguarding
- Youth Justice Service
- Public Health
- Stronger Communities
- Risk and Resilience
- Middlesbrough Community Learning Service
- Middlesbrough College
- Shaw Trust
- Thirteen housing group
- probation service
- police
Partner agencies are also invited when needed.
Individual Prevent operational group members are also responsible for reporting back to their respective departments, organisations, and relevant governance arrangements.