This bulletin reflects the ongoing work of Project Orpheus alongside any local or national Prevent updates. Previous issues are available to read below.
Project Orpheus and Prevent update - January 2021
This bulletin reflects the on-going work of Project Orpheus alongside any local or national Prevent updates.
Despite the challenging circumstances, we have managed to work with young people virtually at Portsmouth and Highbury Colleges.
There has been a slight change to the referral process. Information is to be submitted on the National Referral Form that will then be simultaneously shared with Police and the MASH. Guidance is attached.
The first part of the training to professionals will take place on 04.02.21 4:00pm-6:00pm via Zoom. This will be led by Sam Nesbitt from the Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership. Please email me if you wish to attend.
Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme, April 2019 to March 2020 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
A new OMG (attached) has been written to support frontline professionals. It will be uploaded to the PSCP website.
Colleagues in Kent and West Sussex have reported leafleting of this group and their Twitter account shows they have been leafleting in Southampton as well. This group promotes white nationalism and its content focuses on idolising the white race and highlighting the problems caused by ‘non-white’ immigration. They have produced an alternative curriculum that encourages home-schooling, to the extent that they have template letters for parents to send to schools and the local authority. If you become aware of any PA activity in the city, please let Charlie or myself know.
Counter Terrorism Policing’s new safeguarding website, which is aims to support those concerned about their friends and family being radicalised. The FAQs page is particularly helpful FAQ | ACT Early
Safer Internet Day 2021 will be celebrated in the UK with the theme: An internet we trust: exploring reliability in the online world
Project Orpheus and Prevent update - October 2020
This bulletin reflects the on-going work of Project Orpheus alongside any local or national Prevent updates.
Project Orpheus and Prevent update - May 2020
This bulletin reflects the on-going work of Project Orpheus alongside any local or national Prevent updates.
We found that all pupils were well aware of the amount information that they consumed (either passively or actively) on a daily basis through their online activity. Most had a good understanding of fake news, however less were as informed on how echo chambers and filter bubbles influences our online habits. Fewer still had a clear idea of how information is constructed and how it might be used. Our findings really resonate with the current climate given that we are exposed to huge amount of information, misinformation and disinformation.
Orpheus seeks to build resilience in young people, for example:
Working with professionals
We asked a number of professionals the following question: what is the biggest threat to young people online?
There is plenty of guidance and information being circulated, especially concerning staying safe online. We are aware that some extremists are exploiting Covid-19 to reinforce their pre-existing narratives, so some online platforms are hosting wider conspiratorial narratives. Below is some guidance and some resources that may be used for developing digital literacy and critical thinking (key components of the Orpheus project).
Educate Against Hate – Blog
The DfE website has produced a blog entitled School Closures: Ongoing Prevent Management Support.
Covid-19 Disinformation briefings from the Institute of Strategic Dialogue
ISD are creating regular ‘Disinformation Briefings’, which analyse how extremist and/or radical movements are weaponising the COVID-19 crisis, either to sow division or direct hate towards specific (minority) groups. https://www.isdglobal.org/isd-publications/
CTPHQ Online Harms Guidance
The impact of COVID-19 means most children will be at home for an extended period and will be spending increasing amounts of time online. Counter Terrorism Police have produced some guidance to parents relating to the specific online radicalisation risk.
Websites:
Fact Checkers:
Both Charlie and myself are still available to deal with Prevent concerns and offer support, advice and training. This can be over the phone, email or via a video call. Nothing has changed in terms of the referral process, all Prevent referrals must be made via the MASH, please see Portsmouth City Council’s One Minute Guidance on Prevent/Channel.
As a reminder, Prevent training can be accessed via the Home Office’s e-learning platform.
Project Orpheus and Prevent update - December 2019
This bulletin will now reflect the on-going work of Project Orpheus alongside any local or national Prevent updates.
1. Project Orpheus – Kick Off event in Ghent, Belgium
Both Charlie Pericleous and myself attended the Kick Off event for Project Orpheus in Ghent, Belgium. It was an opportunity to share good practice from partners from France, Belgium and the
Netherlands alongside academics and representatives from the Home and Foreign & Commonwealth Office. We were able to showcase Portsmouth’s approach to preventing violent extremism with a focus on raising awareness of the far right threat. Partner consensus was also agreed on a number of key concepts that will steer the field work.
2. Project Orpheus – focus groups & workshops
In the past few months we have working with a number of young people and professionals to find out their views on:
Young people are keen to be able to share their views on a variety of subjects. The development of safe spaces will allow young people greater opportunity to debate the things that interest them or that are causing them concern. The focus groups have also allowed us to capture some resilience techniques that young people employ to navigate through online and offline spaces. We are always looking for practitioners and young people to work with, so if you think any of the Orpheus content may be useful for you, then please contact us. We already have several established links alongside some local providers who we will
commission to deliver some of this work.
3. The Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) Filtering Tool
The UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) has worked with the Home Office to create a tool to help schools and educational institutions to test whether they are covered by the CTIRU ‘filter list’. The tool will also check whether schools or educational institutions are covered by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) URL list, which contains links to online child sexual exploitation content. If they are not covered, the tool will signpost the user to further information about filtering on the UKSIC website, including how to ensure they are covered by both lists and assist them in ensuring they have appropriate filters in place.
This tool can be accessed through the UKSIC website.
Please note that the filter list is available widely and not limited to schools, however this tool created by UKSIC is aimed at schools only.
4. New Online Referral Form for Reporting Extremism in the Education Sector
The DDCED (Due Diligence and Counter Extremism Division) who sit within the DfE, have developed a new online referral form. Alongside the counter-extremism helpline, the form provides a vehicle for members of the public to report extremism concerns in the education sector to the DfE so they can investigate and determine whether they need to take any action or support institutions. DDCED investigates extremism concerns and allegations related to adults working in or connected to the education sector – for example teachers, other school staff (caretakers, midday supervisors), governors and head teachers. They look at concerns from early years to HE.
This form is also included on the relevant DfE webpages so it can be accessed by members of the public.
5. NSPCC Childline Annual Review
The NSPCC has published the Childline annual review 2018/19. The review looks at what children and young people tell Childline during counselling sessions and how Childline is supporting them both online and over the phone.
6. Advice to the schools sector following London Bridge attack
The DfE have produced some simple guidance signposting to key resources and existing documents of support. Please find this attached.
7. Prevent Concerns
Both Charlie and myself are still available to deal with Prevent concerns and offer support, advice and training as per our previous roles. However as a way of a reminder, all Prevent referrals must be made via the MASH, please see Portsmouth City Council’s One Minute Guidance on Prevent/Channel.
Project Orpheus and Prevent update - October 2019
This bulletin will now reflect the on-going work of Project Orpheus alongside any local or national Prevent updates.
1. Project Orpheus – Initiation Completed
Both Charlie Pericleous and myself have successfully completed in the initiation stage of our European project. The 3 year funded project named Orpheus will work in partnership with other coastal cities and universities within France, Belgium and Netherlands on online and offline methods to build resilience within young people, online safety and an EU prevention model for violent extremism. Initial focus groups have taken place with young people at Highbury College and at Springfield Secondary school. The project is supported by local charities and schools, in addition to the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who will distribute the findings when they become available
2. Portsmouth hosts delegates from EU
During July, we hosted 25 delegates from other coastal cities, universities and social service departments in France, Belgium and the Netherlands to formalise the approaches that would be undertaken throughout the project. In short, there are 3 main aims:
We are always looking for practitioners and young people to work with, so if you think any of the Orpheus content may be useful for you, then please contact us. We already have several established links alongside some local providers who we will commission to deliver some of this work.
For more information on the project, please see either the SPP or PEP websites.
3. Hate Crime Awareness Week 12-19 October
#NHCAW organised by the No To Hate Crime Campaign.
4. Teaching online safety in schools guidance
The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance for schools in England outlining how they can ensure their pupils understand how to stay safe and behave online as part of forthcoming and existing curriculum requirements. (attached)
5. Online harm
The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a summary of children’s experiences of online harm and what they think should be done about it. Findings, based on two workshops with groups from primary and secondary schools, include: many children had reported instances of harmful content online but felt the system was confusing; several children said that reporting abusive behaviour can multiply abuse; and most senior school children want websites to say what they’re doing to fix the problem of
online harm.
6. Keeping children safe online
This NSPCC online training course, developed in association with CEOP (the child protection unit of the National Crime Agency), is for anyone who works with children and young people. The four hour course helps adults understand what children and young people do online, why they take risks and how to respond to these risks.
7. Prevent Independent Reviewer chosen
Lord Carlile has been chosen as the Independent Reviewer of Prevent. The review will focus on the current delivery of the Prevent programme and make recommendations for the future and is expected to report to Parliament by August 2020. For full details of the announcement please see here.
8. Prevent Concerns
Both Charlie and myself are still available to deal with Prevent concerns and offer support, advice and training as per our previous roles. However as a way of a reminder, all Prevent referrals must be made via the MASH, please see Portsmouth City Council’s One Minute Guidance on Prevent/Channel.
Prevent update - May 2019
Key dates coming up:
22 May: Anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack (2 years)
3 June: Anniversary of London Bridge attack (2 years)
12 June: Anne Frank Day
19 June: Anniversary of Finsbury Park attack (2 years)
20 June: World Refugee Day
30 June: World Social Media Day
1. Sri Lanka terrorist attack
The DfE produced a short piece of guidance post the events in Sri Lanka. Mike Stoneman emailed this out on 26.04.19 and it has also been included in the PEP weekly bulletin. In case you haven’t seen, it is attached.
2. Stand Up! Education
This is an organisation that runs workshops to:
It is aimed at secondary schools and sessions can be tailored to schools’ needs. All workshops are free of charge. Leaflet is attached. Email Roxana Jebreel [email protected]
3. Fundamental British values
Educate Against Hate have produced a blog on Twinkl setting out what it means to implement fBv in primary schools, and addressing some criticisms about terminology.
4. Prejudicial language reporting tool
A reminder that this is a PAN Hampshire initiative with support from the OPCC. Karen Thomas sent out this email, along with the reporting tool to Head Teachers on 28.04.19. We are asking that you send EMAS a copy of the completed report each time you have had need to use it, either electronically to [email protected] or via internal mail. We are not collecting names of either victims or perpetrators so please can you anonymise the proforma before you send it or we will do that for you this end. The document has some guidance notes attached to it for ease of use, although we do not require you to send this part of the form back to us.
5. Letter from Damian Hinds to NAHT (RSE)
As stated previously, this is not a Prevent issue, however there are wider links to British values and building positive relationships. His letter is attached.
6. Online training from ACT (Action Counters Terrorism)
This is online training from the organisation that developed RUN HIDE TELL. It is suitable for everyone working in a crowded environment – retail, entertainment, sport, education, places of worship – flyer is attached.
Prevent in education: a Portsmouth perspective - May 2019
What is the Prevent Strategy?
What are your Prevent Strategy responsibilities?
What support is on offer?
Best practice of the Prevent Strategy in Schools
Suggested resources
Government published resources
For further information or to arrange an appointment with John Webster please email [email protected].
Prevent update - March 2019
1. New Zealand Mosque terrorist attack
Several resources have already been produced to support conversations, discussions and understanding. Attached is a primary and secondary resource produced by Votes for Schools, please use or adapt if you consider it appropriate to your setting. There is also a link to the PSHE association materials from 2016 around discussing terrorist attacks. A key message for young people is reassurance as after the 2017 attacks in the UK, young people developed some distorted views of the risk.
2. Prejudicial language in schools toolkit
Thank you to the 18 schools that have agreed to pilot the reporting tool during the summer term. The official launch date for the product is 15 October 2019. This is a PAN Hampshire initiative with support from the OPCC. Karen Thomas and I will provide another update and next steps prior to the Easter break.
3. Report hate crime
Hampshire Constabulary is encouraging the reporting of any hate crime either directly to the police or indirectly via the online reporting links True Vision, Tell Mama, CST or Galop. There are also Third Party Reporting Centres across Hampshire who can offer support. Please contact Freida M’Cormack at PCC for further information on Third Party reporting.
4. Stickering
Colleagues have reported a spate of extreme right wing stickering and leafleting across the country, seemingly related to Brexit and immigration. If you see any stickers posted near or around your school please report via 101 or to a local PCSO.
5. Relationship and Sex Education Community Concerns
Whilst it is not a Prevent issue, you will be aware of community concerns relating to upcoming changes to the Relationship and Sex Education curriculum, particularly in Birmingham and most recently in Manchester. There are also individuals and groups who are attempting to exploit these concerns to garner support for their movements. I have attached the DfE FAQs on RSE.
6. EU funding to tackle radicalisation with European coastal cities
Charlie Pericleous, Prevent Co-Ordinator, and myself have been successful in an EU bid to develop new and innovative approaches to tackle radicalisation. The 3 year funded project will work in partnership with other coastal cities and universities (including Portsmouth) within France, Belgium and Netherlands on online and offline methods to build resilience in young people, support for teachers to hold difficult conversations, online safety and an EU prevention model for violent extremism. The project will be supported by the Home Office, Foreign Office and a number of local partners. We will continue to provide the current level of Prevent service to the city alongside developing this initiative. Furthermore we will brief relevant partners over the coming weeks with more content on the project.
Prevent update - February 2019
Please share with other senior leaders, safeguarding leaders and subject leaders such as PSHE, Citizenship, RE and Computing. If you wish individuals to be added to this distribution list please email [email protected]
1. Channel statistics
An infographic to show referral, discussion and Channel breakdown. Of those who received Channel support:
2. Reporting harmful content online
The South West Grid for Learning, as a partner within the UK Safer Internet Centre, has launched a new online reporting tool for abusive and harmful content. Report harmful content online is a reporting and advice system for online issues relating to: bullying; harassment; impersonation; pornographic content; suicide; selfharm; threats; unwanted sexual advances; violent conduct. It also has a separate icon to report Terrorist Activity and Child Sexual Abuse Imagery.
3. Educate Against Hate resources
There are some new additions to the website; follow the teachers dropdown and select classroom resources.
4. Draft DfE guidance
Voluntary safeguarding code of practice: draft guidance for out of school settings providers
https://consult.education.gov.uk/regulatory-framework-unit/out-of-school-settingsvoluntary-safeguardingcode/supporting_documents/Voluntary%20safeguarding%20code%20of%20practiceDraft%20guidance.pdf
5. Training
I am available to deliver training to whatever suits your needs; just drop me an email.
Prevent update - January 2019
Please share with other senior leaders, safeguarding leaders and subject leaders such as PSHE, Citizenship, RE and Computing. If you wish individuals to be added to this distribution list please email [email protected]
1. Policy Updates
Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme statistics release 17/18
The Home Office have published the Channel statistics for 17/18.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attach
ment_data/file/763254/individuals-referred-supported-prevent-programme-apr2017-
mar2018-hosb3118.pdf
Safeguarding, questions for parents and carers – draft guidance
A voluntary resource to help parents and carers who choose to have their children attend out-of-school settings (OOSS) understand what a safe environment looks like.
https://consult.education.gov.uk/regulatory-framework-unit/out-of-school-settingsvoluntary-safeguardingcode/supporting_documents/Safeguarding%20questions%20for%20parents%20and
%20carersDraft%20guidance.pdf
2. Controlling access to school premises
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/controlling-access-to-schoolpremises/controlling-access-to-school-premises
3. New Prevent training products
Prevent Referrals
The training is for anyone who has been through the Prevent awareness eLearning or a Workshop to Raise Awareness of Prevent (WRAP), and so already has an understanding of Prevent and of their role in safeguarding vulnerable people.
Channel Awareness
This training package is for anyone who may be asked to contribute to, sit on, or even run a Channel Panel.
Prevent awareness eLearning
The Prevent awareness eLearning has recently been refreshed. This includes updates to reflect the recommendations from the Parsons Green review, updated information following the change in threat and attacks of 2017, and new case studies. A link to the training is below.
http://www.elearning.prevent.homeoffice.gov.uk
4. Consultation
The DfE is asking for views on a number of issues at the moment – if you have the opportunity to respond here are the links.
Out-of-school-settings
https://consult.education.gov.uk/regulatory-framework-unit/out-of-school-settingsvoluntary-safeguarding-code/
School security
https://consult.education.gov.uk/teacher-regulation-safer-recruitment/non-statutoryschool-securityguidance/supporting_documents/School%20security%20consultation%20document.
pdf
The Commission for Countering Extremism is also seeking views on extremism in England and Wales
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/extremism-in-england-and-wales-callfor-evidence
5. Training
I am available to deliver training to whatever suits your needs; just drop me an email.
Prevent update - October 2018
Please share with other senior leaders, safeguarding leaders and subject leaders such as PSHE, Citizenship, RE and Computing. If you wish individuals to be added to this distribution list please email [email protected]
Anne Frank Trust – working with Portsmouth Schools March 2019 to March 2020
Portsmouth and Southampton councils are currently putting in a bid for Police & Crime Commissioner’s grant funding to secure the work of the Anne Frank Trust. For participating schools it will be the opportunity to opt for either:
Schools and Ambassador programme:
The core programme includes a series of hour long workshops, exploring such issues as Identity and Diversity, Understanding Prejudice, Responsibility and Resistance, and Human Rights.
Switch Off Prejudice programme:
An in-depth, day long workshop, designed to help young people understand the dangers of prejudice and discrimination, particularly online. The programme covers these dangers both from a historical perspective and in the modern world, encouraging young people to question and challenge what they see online, an environment in which they are being increasingly exposed to hate speech, and to also keep themselves safe online.
Both programmes starts with the pop-up exhibition Anne Frank: A History for Today into your school for a period of two weeks. AFT will then train a group of students to be guides at the exhibition; these Peer Guides go on to take groups of their fellow students around the exhibition, using the strength of peer education to teach about Anne Frank and the wider context of her life and times.
Following on from both programmes, Peer Guides get the opportunity to build on the skills that they have developed as guides, by applying to become an Anne Frank Ambassador.
If you would like your school to work with the Anne Frank Trust, please contact either myself or Freida M’Cormack, Community Coordinator as soon as possible. Attached is further information and endorsements from Bedfordshire schools, who have participated in similar programmes with the Anne Frank Trust.
Safer Portsmouth Partnership
If you have a Twitter account, please follow SPP for further Prevent updates and communication.
Young people anxious about terror attacks
A report released recently suggests that media coverage of events is leaving young people more
anxious about the threat of terrorism, however it also suggests that young people have a skewed
view of the risk.
ChildLine has some useful support and guidance for young people under the heading Worries
about the World.
Training
I am available to deliver training to whatever suits your needs; just drop me an email.