Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015
Intended objectives of the Prevent Duty
- Respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat from those who promote it
- Prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and give them advice and support
- Work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to address
What are the Government's requirements?
The Prevent Duty Guidance for Higher Education (issued in September 2015) sets out a number of requirements to ensure that Universities are compliant, these include:
- How senior management oversees arrangements, works in partnership with colleagues and with the wider sector
- The development of an action plan to address compliance with the Duty
- Undertaking staff training for relevant colleagues
- Policies and procedures in place for managing events on campus
- Providing sufficient pastoral welfare and chaplaincy support
- Appropriate policies relating to the use of IT equipment for research, teaching and recreational purposes
- Engagement with their Students' Unions
The Prevent agenda is not new - the change in 2015 is that it has become a statutory Duty and a legal obligation. As such, the University already has the majority of the requirements of the Prevent agenda embedded in our existing policies and approaches to the wellbeing of the community. Compliance with the statutory Duty at Warwick has required a refresh of existing practice, but has not required the University to implement significantly new processes.
Our compliance with the statutory Duty is monitored by the Office for Students (OfS).