Safeguarding not keeping pace with changing terrorist threats, report finds
Safeguarding arrangements for young and vulnerable people at risk of radicalisation have not kept pace with changing threats and increasing demand, a new report has found.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said the overall safeguarding system does not operate consistently enough to provide the protection that vulnerable people and the public require.
While there were examples of examples of effective practice and committed Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) and police force personnel, the number of referrals received by Prevent has increased sharply.
Inspectors said this is increasing the pressure on existing safeguarding arrangements, which have not kept pace with the changing nature of terrorist threats or the growing complexity of terrorism-related vulnerability.
Inspectors also found that current arrangements mean that organisations, including CTP and local policing teams, do not manage risk collectively, their accountability is unclear and information is not exchanged effectively between them.
The report follows an inspection commissioned by the Home Secretary to look at how police forces, CTP and partner organisations safeguard those who may be at risk of radicalisation, exploitation or involvement in terrorism-related activity.
His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Lee Freeman KPM said: “The UK continues to face a persistent terrorist threat with the threat level currently at severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. But the nature of this threat has changed. Young and vulnerable people are increasingly being exposed to harmful material online, while the number and complexity of referrals to Prevent have placed the safeguarding system under considerable strain.
“We found some examples of effective practice and dedicated personnel across the system, but organisations are not consistently sharing information or managing risks collectively. These weaknesses create systemic failure across the whole safeguarding process, rather than a failure of any single organisation.
“Safeguarding requires a whole-system approach by policing and partner organisations. Stronger strategic leadership, improved information sharing, earlier intervention and greater accountability are needed to keep vulnerable people and the public safe.”
Among 14 recommendations, HMICFRS identified two areas for improvement to make safeguarding more effective:
- Improving information sharing, technology and case management; and
- CTP improving the quality of its data, so it can confidently analyse safeguarding and vulnerability data to understand what works and where activity could be focussed to achieve better outcomes
Recommendations included consolidating strategic leadership and coordination arrangements for safeguarding and establishing a clear national multi-agency framework for managing people with non-ideological vulnerability to terrorism or violence fixation.