Preventing Radicalisation

All staff at The Wavell School complete Prevent training annually to help to identify signs of radicalisation.

The NSPCC states ‘Children can be exposed to different views and receive information from various sources. Some of these views may be considered radical or extreme. Radicalisation is the process through which a person comes to support, or be involved in, extremist ideologies. It can result in a person becoming drawn into terrorism and is in itself a form of harm.’

NSPCC - Safeguarding Children - Radicalisation

The process of radicalisation may involve:

Being groomed, either online or in person
Exploitation, including sexual exploitation
Psychological manipulation
Exposure to violent material and other inappropriate information
The risk of physical harm or death through extremist acts

Indicators of radicalisation

Children at risk of radicalisation may:

have low self-esteem
be victims of bullying and/or discrimination.

Extremists target them, telling them they can be part of something special; gradually brainwashing them and isolating them away from family/friends. Day-to-day behaviour can become increasingly centred around an extremist ideology, group or cause and the child/young person may:

spend increasing amounts of time talking to people with extremist views; online and in person
change their appearance/style
lost interest in friends and activities not associated with the extremist ideology, group or cause
have material or symbols associated with an extreme cause
try to recruit others to join the cause
have a sudden disrespectful attitude towards others
display increased levels of anger
display increased levels of secrecy; particularly around their Internet use.

Reporting

If you think a child/young person is involved in radicalisation and there is an immediate risk of harm – call 999.

If you are concerned but the child/young person is not in immediate risk of harm:

call the police anti-terrorism hotline 0800 789 321
call NSPCC (anonymously) 0808 800 5000