Prevent and Channel Referral Process

The 'Prevent Duty’ established under the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 requires responsible authorities to 'have due regard to the need to prevent individuals from being drawn into terrorism in the exercise of their duties'. This includes those working with children and young people as well as those working with adults. 

This duty includes ensuring that those working with children, young people and adults: 

•  are trained to understand the risk of terrorism in the local area.
•  able to identify when an individual is susceptible to radicalisation
• know what to do once that risk is identified by making a referral through the Prevent/ Channel process. 

Statutory Prevent Duties can be found here: Prevent duty Guidance: England and Wales 2023

Statutory Channel Panel Duties can be found here: Channel and Prevent Multi-Agency Panel (PMAP) Guidance

Prevent Referral 

Making a referral

If there is a reason to believe that a child, young person or an adult is susceptible to radicalisation, associates with those known to be involved in extremism either because they associate directly with known individuals or via online material, there is a need to refer to PREVENT.

All Referrals should be made to the Counter Terrorism Police using the National Prevent referral form, and sent to prevent@merseyside.police.uk NB if you are unable to use the PDF format you can access a Prevent National Referral Form, Microsoft word document.

Once received by the Counter Terrorism Police, they will undertake initial Information Gathering and may contact you for additional information. The Police will then commence background checks and send a Vulnerable Persons Assessment Form (VPA) to either Adults or Childrens Social Care.

Following receipt of the VPA, Adults/Childrens Contact teams will review and open a Safeguarding Concern.

Complete the Prevent referral form using your own wording and avoid the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT or Copilot.