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Why is PREVENT relevant to me?

As a tertiary education training provider, The Sheffield College is required to teach students about PREVENT and promote the Fundamental British Values in our curriculum!

Many of our students remember that we cover PREVENT and the Fundamental British Values during the induction, but after that they struggle to remember what it is or why we cover it because they don't always realise why it is relevant to them.

This page helps you to understand why the PREVENT agenda is important and how you as a citizen play your part in helping society at large by being alert to the behaviours of vulnerable people who may be drawn towards extremist causes.

Terrorism could affect anyone, anytime, anywhere

In our day to day lives, we rarely imagine that we will be victims of a terrorist attack. Yet when incidents happen, they make national news headlines and the whole country is in shock, because these incidents were so unforeseen and unexpected.

Successfully carried out attacks

Below are some examples of successfully carried out acts of terrorism committed in the UK in recent years (click the pictures to open the Wikipedia articles), with a variety of motivations shown.

Manchester Arena bombing

22/05/2017 (33 died, 1017 injured)

Religiously motivated

7/7 London bombings

07/07/2005 (52 died, 700 injured)

Religiously motivated

Finsbury Park attack

19/06/2017 (1 died, 9 injured)

Range of possible motivations including mental illness, drug abuse and anti-religious/political sentiments

London Bridge attack

03/06/2017 (8 died, 48 injured)

Religiously motivated

Murder of Jo Cox

16/06/2016 (1 died)

Politically motivated (right wing)

Attacks by Pavlo Lapshyn

April - June 2013 (1 died, other bombs detonated)

Racially and anti-religiously motivated

Prevented attacks

Below are examples of how police, MI5 or other counter-terrorism groups were able to prevent potential attackers from carrying out their planned attacks (click the images for more information about each incident)...

Birmingham terror plot

02/08/2017

Fatah Mohammed Abdullah

20/03/2020

Mohiussunnath Chowdhury

10/02/2020

Prevent Success Stories.pdf

Home Office success stories report

This report from the Home Office lists several success stories where individuals were supported through PREVENT, CHANNEL and by partner civil society organisations.

Open the report in another tab

How does PREVENT and terrorism impact my workplace/sector?

Most of us don't imagine that terrorists would be all that interested in our jobs, companies or sectors, but it may surprise you to know that terrorists might be keen to access some of the materials and facilities that you work with. Below are some examples of why terrorists would be interested in a particular job or sector that we tend to think are quite ordinary and not on a terrorist's horizon...

Hair Salons, Pharmacies and Retail

We don't usually imagine these places as being very dangerous, but you may work in a business that uses or sells various liquids or mixtures that contain dangerous chemicals which could be used to carry out attacks. Even household cleaning products, medicines and cosmetics may contain flammable or potentially explosive chemical substances.

You may be suspicious if you notice a customer purchasing unusually large amounts of potentially dangerous products.

Schools and young people's services

Terrorist attacks have rarely been attempted in schools in the UK (although school shootings in the US have happened from time to time) but schools and organisations working with young people are important targets for extremist groups because young people are more susceptible to being radicalised and recruited.

Every apprentice is in scope because you are participating in education. Even if you don't consider yourself vulnerable to radicalisation, you could be near somebody who is and you might be able to identify vulnerable people.

Hospitals, policing and emergency services

Because Healthcare, policing and emergency services are essential for everybody whether ill or well, they are critical targets for terrorists wanting to cause widespread national panic and disruption and reduce national morale. Health and Social care workers will also encounter a lot more people with severe mental health issues than workers in other sectors and are more at risk because of working with such people.

Even if you don't work in Health and Social care, you could live next door to somebody who has severe mental health issues and is at risk of being radicalised. As a neighbour your cooperation may be essential to public safety if you notice suspicious behaviour.

Religious organisations

Religious extremism is currently considered one of the largest threats in the UK and Europe that has the potential to radicalise people towards extremist causes.

Even though most religious institutions are totally benign, because major religions are often sub-divided into denominations and movements, a member of a benevolent institution may still be exposed to extremist teachings from another. Changes to Britain's societal morals may also be considered a threat to religious beliefs and has potential to aggravate large groups of people.

On the opposing side, because some religions such as Islam are predominantly followed by ethnic minorities, followers are unintentionally more vulnerable to anti-religious or racial extremism.

Even if you do not participate in religious activity, in any type of workplace you may work with someone who is drawn to extremist pro-religious or anti-religious preaching who otherwise seems a perfectly normal and reasonable person.

Legal and accounting sectors

While legal and accounting services are considered low risk to terrorism in of themselves, they are high risk sectors for money laundering and fraud which extremist groups may want to exploit to gain access to funds needed to carry out their activities.

You may need to have some training and awareness about anti-fraud, bribery and corruption initiatives. You should also understand your organisation's whistle-blowing policy.

Construction and home maintenance

Plumbers, carpenters, plasterers and bricklayers are usually more accustomed to working on building sites or in people's homes, and don't imagine that terrorism is a big concern for them. But potential terrorists live in houses too and once in a while, their homes need maintenance. You could be called out to do some work on the house of somebody who is vulnerable to radicalisation and extremism.

If you visit people's homes in your job role, remember that you might be the only person outside of the home owner's social circles to visit the inside of their property. If you notice potentially extremist materials or suspicious activity, you might be the only person who can notify the police.