Prevent is one of the strands of the government’s CONTEST counter-terrorism strategy. The purpose of Prevent is to prevent terrorism. The other strands of CONTEST are Prepare, Protect and Pursue.  

Part 5 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act addresses the risks of being drawn into terrorism and Section 26(1) establishes a duty on a specified authority to “have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism” in the exercise of its functions. This is known as the Prevent duty. Parliament approved statutory guidance covering the implementation of the duty on the 18th September 2015.   

The authorities to which this applies include local councils, prisons, Relevant Higher Education Bodies (RHEBs) and Further Education (FE) colleges, schools, nursery schools, NHS Trusts and chief constables.

OfS is the monitoring body for PREVENT at RHEBs and statutory reporting is submitted for review directly to OfS. The framework for the monitoring of the Prevent duty in higher education in England outlines how the regulator will monitor providers’ implementation of the statutory Prevent duty in the higher education sector in England. 

The oversight of compliance is led by dedicated Prevent leads, in collaboration with the Student Union and through the formal governance channels of the Student Development Committee and College Executive Committee.

The leads continue to work with key stakeholders across the institution to ensure that the requirements of Prevent are implemented proportionately and effectively. 

The RVC maintains and updates a risk assessment and action plan for implementation to review compliance.

The key areas of policy and practice affected are:

• Policy and Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech & Freedom of Expression
• Events bookings and space management, on and off campus
• External speakers and visitors Communications and information sharing, internal and external
• Acceptable use of RVC facilities, including IT
• Staff and student wellbeing support infrastructure and faith facilities
• Engagement with Student Union and societies

Furthermore, the RVC has made a commitment to develop our capability and knowledge in dealing with vulnerable individuals in our community to ensure they are identified and properly supported. All senior staff and key staff in pastoral roles will be briefed on Prevent and how to engage any related enquiries.

The Prevent duty requests senior management oversight of all activities, and the RVC Executive Committee, Audit Committee and Council have all been thoroughly briefed.

On-going monitoring: Please contact the RVC Prevent Leads for copies of the Annual Reports submitted to OfS.

It is a statutory requirement for RVC to have a record of your training, as we are obliged to report on this to The Office for Students (OfS) each year.

• RVC Key staff groups are required to refresh their Prevent training on an annual basis
• You can access RVC’s Prevent training in the online staff training area of the Staff Hub on LEARN
• Please save a copy of your completion certificate and email it to Prevent@rvc.ac.ukFailure to send the certificate will register as no training received.

Further information

• You can contact the RVC's Prevent leads via Prevent@rvc.ac.uk 
• Get help if you're worried about someone being radicalised (from .gov.uk)
• Other useful resources can be found on the Government's Prevent Pages. 

Other training resources 

A number of other helpful resources are made available for those seeking additional insight and context of Prevent. 

Further resources

• Let's Talk About it - information and resources
• Educate Against Hate - information and resources
• Action Counters Terrorism (ACT early) – information and resources
• WRAP (Workshop to Raise Awareness of Prevent) - Free, online, facilitated live workshop by HM Government is currently being revised.
• Home Office Channel Process awareness training - Free, online webinar, where those interested in the Channel Process can seek further information
• Home Office Prevent Referral e-learning - Free, online training.

Further guidance

• Government Statutory guidance
• Universities UK (UUK) guidance on freedom of speech
• The Equality and Human Rights Commission published advice on freedom of expression
• Guidance on the Prevent Duty from Universities and Colleges Union
• Counter Terrorism Act 2015 – parliament webpage

Information on what to do if you are concerned that a member of the RVC community is being radicalised (i.e. moved toward an extremist position at odds with the values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith) and/or is at risk of being drawn into terrorist activity.

The Royal Veterinary College is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for every member of its community.

• If you have concerns that a member of the RVC community is being radicalised or is at risk of being drawn into terrorism, you should discuss these concerns as soon as possible with any senior member of staff or one of the Prevent leads via Prevent@rvc.ac.uk
• While the RVC cannot respond to anonymous concerns, it will protect the identity of individuals raising concerns as much as possible.
• Senior staff across all areas of the RVC have been briefed about the Prevent duty. Any of these staff will be able to discuss concerns that are raised with them. Following that discussion, they may conclude that concerns should be referred to the Prevent leads. Alternatively, they may be able to identify other forms of support or intervention that are more appropriate.
• Where cases are referred to the Prevent leads and only if deemed necessary, they will be considered by a committee composed of relevant senior staff to ensure the approach taken is appropriate and sensitive to the individual’s and RVC community wellbeing and safety.
• You can contact the RVC Prevent leads on Prevent@rvc.ac.uk.
• Staff Concern Information Flow (PDF)- please contact the HR Department for up-to-date information

RVC Report + Support

• There may be times whilst at RVC where you (or someone else) need support or that you notice or experience something that you wish to report to the University.
  RVC Report and Support allows students, staff, visitors and third parties to report a concern on behalf of themselves or someone else anonymously or to speak to an adviser.
• Get help if you're worried about someone being radicalised(from .gov.uk)
• Other useful resources can be found on the Government's Prevent Pages. 

Action Counters Terrorism (ACT Early)

• If you are worried about someone, you can share your concern, in confidence, with specially trained officers. Call the national police Prevent advice line 0800 011 3764, open 9:00am – 5:00pm every day. Calls outside of these hours will be transferred to specialist Counter Terrorism officers. If you’re deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment, a police non-emergency number is available as a text phone service on 18001 101. Remember in an emergency, please make sure you’re safe and dial 999.
• Note: under the Terrorism Act (2000), if you believe or suspect that another person is alreadyengaged in illegal terrorist-related activity, you must report this to the Police.

If you have been affected, or know someone who has been affected by incidents of terrorism please seek help, even if you feel you can manage it, as there are a multitude of resources available that will suit your concerns.

• The Home Office Victims of Terrorism Page provides advice on how to access helplines and charitable funds, mental health support, how to support victims and advice on handling requests from the media if you are more directly involved. 
• Please approach the Advice Centre if you are a student, or the free, impartial and confidential Counselling Service Care First if you are a staff member (details on HR's intranet pages).
• Resources for parents, children and their educators can be found on the Home Office Guidance pages, including how to deal with the fears and trauma arising after incidents.