Agenda item

11.05am

To consider a report from the PCC on a Thames Valley perspective of PREVENT. Prevent was part of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 and is a measure that aims to reduce the threat of terrorism in the UK.

A report of the Panel’s Scrutiny Officer is also attached which provides background reading for Panel Members.

The Panel considered a report of the PCC on a Thames Valley perspective of PREVENT. PREVENT was part of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 and is a measure that aims to reduce the threat of terrorism in the UK.

A report of the Panel’s Scrutiny Officer was also provided which gave further information on the strategy.

The PCC drew the Panel’s attention to paragraphs 13 and 14 of the report which showed that Channel cases for Extreme Right-Wing radicalisation (per million population by region) were higher than Channel cases for Islamist radicalisation. This created a different challenge for Counter-Terrorism in the South East, of which TVP was the Host force.

Members’ Questions

(1)  The PCC was asked whether he was confident in the information sharing and how did PREVENT share data with Police Forces.

[The PCC replied that from a Thames Valley police perspective, he was confident that data was shared across Police Force boundaries and with other public agencies. There were challenges with general data sharing across boundaries, not just relating to counter terrorism.

Relationships on the ground were good with Community Faith Groups, although these could be improved. Often it was about reassurance rather than identification. Reference was made to recent unrest in Leicestershire and contact was made with groups in Milton Keynes and Reading regarding the threat of this spreading. Local neighbourhood groups had contact and relationships with Faith Groups.]

(2)  From the data included in the report, Channel cases for Extreme Right-wing radicalisation are higher than those for Islamist radicalisation. Was the PCC happy that this was working with Channel and what engagement was taking place with Extreme Right Wing groups?

[The PCC replied that the philosophy used was not a policy of Thames Valley Police. The data was proportions of PREVENT moving into Channel. Spread across the country and the total of referrals adopted by Channel case by region, was 82 per million of the population across England and Wales and for the South East it was 84 per million of the population. This was in line with the average and the data suggested that the PREVENT policy was working.

The PCC pointed out that it was difficult to measure the success of PREVENT as the measurements were based around incidents that have not happened.

The PCC reported that it was difficult to engage with Extreme Right Wing groups or individuals as there were no easily identifiable leaders. However, it was easier to engage with Faith Groups as leaders were easily identified.]

(3)  The PCC was asked if he had details of the percentage of Extreme Right Wing groups and Islamist groups in the South East. The total of adopted Channel cases for the year ended March 2021 was 126 and the PCC was asked what percentage of these cases were from Extreme Right Wing groups?

[The PCC replied that he would provide this information and email the details to Panel Members. [ACTION:PCC] It would be important to provide this information although it would not mitigate the risk. Some comfort could be taken from the figures that out of the 774 PREVENT referrals for the South East, 126 were adopted as Channel cases. This meant that 648 were not substantiated.]

(4)   The PCC was asked how did TVP approach the differences between the Far Right and Islamists and how were the not as easily identified Far Right groups tackled?

[The PCC reported that he was not sure if he could provide a strategic governance perspective on an operational policing issue. However, the policing of these issues was carried out well, with the community often not noticing what has gone well. Community tensions were prevented, and the policing provided community reassurance.

The PCC said visible policing provided reassurance to residents and were preventative in terms of quelling any tensions. In relation to the community tensions in Leicestershire, there were concerns between different faith groups at the tensions between different groups. 

Reference was made to the attack at Forbury Gardens in Reading where work took place on TVP engaging with different groups and building relationships with LGBT groups. Preventative measures were put in place to offer residents reassurance.]

(5)  The PCC was asked how was the data for PREVENT used over time?

[The PCC reported that Thames Valley Police was the host authority for South East Counter Terrorism and there were joint meetings between PCCs where data was looked at relating to case work. This data was scrutinised in the areas where there were rises and falls in incidents.]

RESOLVED – That the reports and the information provided at the meeting be noted.