Freedom of information response

Extremist Material

Publication date: 
Thursday 2 May 2024
Request: 

I am interested in existing policies relating to countering terrorism and extremism.

In particular, how far-right extremism is countered by the organisation, with particular regard to potentially radicalising material/material that is linked to or may be considered to promote extremist ideologies

Could you please provide me with the following information in answer to these questions:

A1 - What training courses or training sessions, either delivered by internal or external instructors, do staff typically complete with regard to the issue of terrorism extremism?  Are there mandatory courses?

Or, if there is no typical framework for courses: what courses have been delivered on this subject in the past 12 months up to date?

A2 - If possible, can you please provide copies of the training material delivered in these sessions/courses: any slides, booklets etc ?

B1 - What training material or material for guidance is currently held for staff?   For example, is there a permanent staff handbook on spotting and dealing with signs of extremism?

B2 - Could you please provide copies of any such material

C1 - Could you please provide any lists or summaries of material that has been deemed, in any guidance provided to staff, to be connected to extremist ideologies, or to promote these ideologies. I am particular interested in material relate: philosophy, arts, literature, film, and music. For example, staff may be warned that Nietzsche books could be linked to extremists, as he may be favoured by groups with an extremist ideology.

Response: 

A1: Internal Instructor-led training courses on PREVENT are scheduled monthly and delivered virtually over MSTeams. This is in line with the Home Office programme of Workshop to Raise Awareness of Prevent (WRAP).

In addition to instructor-led training, staff are signposted to the online PREVENT duty training on GOV.UK.

https://www.support-people-susceptible-to-radicalisation.service.gov.uk/portal

In these courses staff can learn about:

  • the Prevent duty
  • different extremist ideologies that can lead to terrorism 
  • the risk around radicalisation and your supportive role
  • making a Prevent referral that is both informed and made with good intention
  • the interventions and support available

In addition we signpost to: Act Early training - ACT Awareness is one of a range of courses built to support the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) initiative.

A2: The instructor-led content follows that issued by the Home Office.

B1: Training material, in the form of a delegate handout is emailed to all attendees of the instructor-led programme as a PDF document. Guidance on making prevent referrals is available to staff at: www.thurrock.gov.uk/terrorism/help-tackle-terrorism

At national level guidance is available here:

Get help for radicalisation concerns - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Prevent duty guidance: England and Wales (2023) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Channel and Prevent Multi-Agency Panel (PMAP) guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Prevent duty: risk assessment templates - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

B2: Please see links above.

C1: The Local Authority do not hold this information

Request reference:
FOI 13711