The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “AI”) which outlines the approach taken to delivering the Government’s Prevent Strategy in Bradford District since Prevent became a statutory requirement in July 2015 and responds to the recommendations made at the Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 28th September 2017.

Recommended –

(1)       The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee acknowledge            the progress on work undertaken in implementing the Prevent        agenda in Bradford and its approach to supporting vulnerable    people.

(2)       A report is presented in twelve months’ time giving a progress   update.

(Ian Day - 01274 433507)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “AI”) which outlined the approach taken to delivering the Government’s Prevent Strategy in Bradford District since Prevent became a statutory requirement in July 2015, and responded to the recommendations made by this Committee at its meeting held on 28th September 2017.

The Assistant Director Neighbourhoods stated that following a review, it had been decided to amalgamate the current Prevent Plans into a single document and also incorporate the recommendations from the Home Office, which would include performance measures, be more target driven and the Plan being more aligned to counter terrorism aims.

A Prevent training event for elected Members was held during December 2017, supported by a senior team from the Home Office, and 22 Members attended this training session. It is envisaged that in future Prevent training will be done annually.

During the discussion a Member ascertained how we responded to threats in what was not a static environment, and how was a resurgence in the extreme far left being tackled within the Prevent framework.  In response the Assistant Director explained that the threat level was updated on a quarterly basis and plans were adjusted accordingly, however Prevent did not address the threat posed by the far left.  In response the Member stressed the need to be vigilant when it came to threats from both the far right and the far left.

In response to a question regarding the sufficiency of resources for a city the size of Bradford, the Assistant Director stated that the Service was preparing for a larger bid next year given the resources required to adequately tackle to the issue.

The Chair suggested that Councillors should be given advance notice of projects being undertaken in their respective wards under the Prevent agenda.

In response to a question regarding outcomes and attitudinal changes, the Assistant Director stated that Prevent had been considered a ‘toxic’ brand in the past and increasingly the process of radicalisation was being recognised as a safeguarding issue.  To this end the work undertaken under the mothers against radicalisation had been extremely beneficial, in capturing real stories and informing the Prevent action plan.

In relation to a question regarding referrals made to Prevent and ensuring those referred received the appropriate help and support, it was explained that unless a crime had been perpetrated or was in the process of being committed, any offer of help was dependent on the recipients willingness to accept help, and there was no compulsion for an individual to engage with the programme.

In terms of the perception around Prevent, it was explained that there was now a greater recognition out there and that Prevent had a crucial role to play and to this end there had been a step change in the communities acceptance and engagement with the programme.  However vigilance was still key as the threat level from terrorism had increased with the potential for ‘lone wolf’ attacks and the threat posed by individuals returning to the UK from Syria and other war zones.

In relation to a question on Member training, it was stressed that although 22 Councillors had attended the recent Prevent training, there was scope if Members wished, to offer bespoke training at a political group level.

A Member stated that the recent Government Integration Strategy also had an overlap with the Prevent agenda and this Committee should scrutinise the Strategy as it is developed and rolled out in Bradford.

Resolved –

(1)       That the progress on work undertaken in implementing the         Prevent agenda in Bradford and its approach to supporting             vulnerable people be acknowledged.

(2)       That this Committee requests that all Ward Councillors be           informed of project work taking place in their wards before it      takes place.

(3)       That a progress report be presented in 12 months in relation to             Bradford’s new updated Prevent Programme.

(4)       That the Integration Strategy be presented to this Committee in             the new Municipal Year.

ACTION:       Strategic Director Place