Issue - meetings

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, and a presentation, which provided information on the Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) in relation to the Prevent Strategy, what CT looked like and the Council’s duties and functions to deliver a Prevent Strategy across Halton.

            On behalf of CTPNW, Mike Sage advised Members that CONTEST was the name of the Government’s counter terrorism strategy. The strategy aimed to identify Islamist terrorism as the principal terrorist threat to the UK. CONTEST identified four key elements in response and these were Pursue, Prevent, Protect and Prepare. Jointly they aimed to identify terrorists, prevent people from becoming terrorist, protect society from terrorist attacks and mitigate the impact of attacks when they occurred.

            Whilst local authorities had a role in all these elements, the focus for this guidance was around the Prevent strand. A key element of the Prevent programme was on safeguarding and supporting individuals who might be vulnerable to radicalisation. The presentation outlined activity across Halton and Cheshire to show how the authorities were meeting their responsibilities under the Prevent agenda.

            RESOLVED: That the report and presentation be noted.