GovWire

The aim of Prevent is to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

The objectives of Prevent are to:

• tackle the ideological causes of terrorism
• intervene early to support people susceptible to radicalisation
• enable people who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate

This is statutory guidance for England and Wales, issued on 7 September 2023 under Section 29 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015. It came into force on 31 December 2023, replacing the 2015 guidance which came into force in July 2015.

There is separate guidance for Scotland.

This statutory guidance is intended for use by:

• senior leadership teams in any of the specified authorities listed in Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the CTSA 2015
• those with dedicated Prevent and/or safeguarding responsibilities
• people in specified authorities with responsibility for how resources and funding are used, and for external partnerships
• those in a frontline role and likely to engage with people who may be susceptible to radicalisation

This guidance may also inform best practice for other sectors that are not specified authorities but may wish to consider how to prevent the risk of people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

The list of specified authorities subject to the duty at section 26 CTSA 2015 can be found at Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the CTSA 2015. Further details are in the sector specific sections of this guidance.

This guidance replaces the:

• Revised Prevent duty guidance: for England and Wales (2015)
• Prevent duty guidance: for further education institutions in England and Wales (2015)
• Prevent duty guidance: for higher education institutions in England and Wales 2015 (updated in April 2021)

Specified authorities in England and Wales were required to have regard to the 2015 guidance until the 2023 guidance came into force on 31 December 2023. The 2023 guidance replaces the 2015 guidance, and specified authorities must have regard to the new guidance.

A glossary of terms used in the Prevent duty guidance.