Terrorism, extremism and the Prevent strategy

Help prevent terrorism and save lives

If you are worried that someone you know might be at risk of getting involved in terrorism, don’t rely on others to report it.

Please report any concerns you have about anyone, adult or child, who you think may be vulnerable to being drawn into extremism. You can help us prevent terrorism and save lives.

Spotting the signs

You may be in a position to identify and support someone who is vulnerable to becoming involved in extremism or terrorism. You can read about some of the signs on the Action Counters Terrorism website.

There is no single type of person likely to become involved in terrorism or extremism and the process of radicalisation is different for every individual. Signs that someone is being recruited into extremism are numerous.

You can report your concerns in one of these ways:

• contact Police Scotland by dialling 101
• email spoc@scotborders.gov.uk but if there is any urgency or immediate concerns please contact Police Scotland
• if you are a young person in education, talk to a member of staff at your school or college
• report your concerns anonymously to CrimeStoppers 0800 555111
• call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789321
• if it is an emergency, always dial 999

We understand that reporting these kinds of concerns can be difficult, so your call is handled in confidence by professionals who are trained in public protection.

We have a dedicated professional called the SPOC (Single Point Of Contact), who may make a referral to Police Scotland and can also make enquiries and discuss a plan of action about your concern. They might decide to hold a meeting of the confidential Prevent Multi Agency Panel (PMAP). The PMAP can help people make positive choices about their lives to divert them away from negative extremist influence and criminality. This group is based on existing multi-agency working between local authority partners and aims to:

• provide early intervention measures that support people who are at risk of radicalisation
• provide practical support tailored to the needs of the individual

The Prevent strategy

The Prevent strategy aims to reduce the threat to the UK from terrorism by stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.