Issue - meetings

          Members of the Board received a presentation which provided an update on the Prevent Programme and delivery in Halton.  The aim of Prevent was to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

          Members noted that the national security threat for the Country remained at substantial, the definition of which meant that attack was likely.  Following the recent incident in Southport and the civil unrest seen across the UK, the Prevent work was prevalent.

          The presentation highlighted the following key areas:

·       The expectations of the Council:

-        completion of an annual benchmarking process;

-        preventative risk assessments and action plan; and

-        the Council do not receive any funding in relation to the Prevent Duty.

·     The resources the Council has in place:

-        Prevent leads/points of contact;

-        Prevent delivery group which meets quarterly;

-        a fully established Channel process;

-        a referral process;

-        a Council Prevent webpage – Council staff were encouraged to complete the Home Office Prevent Awareness Course;

-        venue hire guidance – a copy to be circulated to Board Members; and

-        participation in Liverpool City Region Prevent Network  - work to increase awareness of the Liverpool offer across agencies including the voluntary and faith sector.

·     Training/awareness raising events:

-        Cheshire Police delivered an awareness session to Children’s Social Care Teams in September and would deliver the same session to Adult Social Care teams in November;

-        Liverpool City Council, Prevent Advisor - education awareness session on 19 November 2024; and

-        Dr Gareth Harris to deliver an Elected Members awareness session on 27 November 2024 – all Members were encouraged to participate.

     RESOLVED:  That the Prevent Programme presentation is received.