‘Prevent’: Information for Staff
This briefing sets out the University’s responsibilities relating to the Government’s ‘Prevent’ initiative. The briefing is intended for all staff, particularly those in the following areas:
- Academic advising
- Communications
- Information Services
- Facilities Management and Security
- Students’ Representative Council (SRC)
- Accommodation Services
- Student Support Services
What is Prevent?
UK universities have a statutory duty, along with all other public bodies in the UK, under the Counter-Terrorism & Security Act 2015, “to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.
Within universities, the term ‘Prevent’ refers to measures taken to safeguard members of the University community who might be at risk of being drawn into terrorism.
What does it mean for me?
Many members of staff contribute to student welfare and pastoral support. In cases where students are experiencing difficulties at University, a range of advice and support is available. This includes the network of Academic advisers, Counselling and Wellbeing, the Interfaith Chaplaincy, the International Student Support Team, Wardening teams in halls of residence and the SRC’s Advice Centre. These teams provide advice and guidance to all members of staff who engage with students, and you are encouraged to utilize them for student support. Senior staff who have responsibility for student facing services will receive training and briefings in relation to Prevent duty.
If you have concerns that a member of the University community might be at risk of being drawn into terrorism, you should seek advice from a member of the Campus Safety Working Group. You can be assured that the person you approach will treat your discussion in confidence and will not, without your permission, identify you as the source of the concerns that you share.
Where you are concerned about the wellbeing of a student, it is reasonable for you to share personal information about the student with a colleague whose role is to provide support. Should you have questions regarding sharing personal information, you should take advice from the University’s Head of Data Protection & Freedom of Information Office, Johanna King.
What does this mean for the University?
Where in relation to the Counter-Terrorism & Security Act 2015, members of staff and/or students raise concerns regarding the wellbeing of students, or the invitation of potentially controversial speakers, or the staging of potentially controversial events, the Campus Safety Working Group will provide advice and ultimately will make decisions on the University’s behalf.
Campus Safety Working Group
The University has established a Campus Safety Working Group responsible for this area. The members of the Group are:
Professor Martin Hendry, Clerk of Senate
Dr Neil Bowering, Executive Director of Student and Academic Services
Dr David Duncan, Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary (Convenor)
Mr Gary Stephen, Head of Security
The Group’s role is to ensure that the University addresses its statutory duty.
Key elements of the Group’s work include:
- providing information and training to staff engaged in the provision of student welfare and pastoral support;
- producing and overseeing a protocol on the management of speakers and events; and
- maintaining an effective dialogue with the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) to manage the process among the student community.
Further Information
Sources of relevant information in relation to Prevent are:
Prevent duty guidance: for Scotland (accessible)
Protocol for managing speakers and events at the University of Glasgow
Understanding and identifying radicalisation risk in your education setting