SGSU Open Meeting 26 April 2016 Sophie Bowen

1. The government Prevent agenda - understanding the St George's response and how we can work with students and societies SGSU Open Meeting 26 April 2016 Sophie Bowen

2. The Prevent Duty • The Duty • Requirements of the guidance • Balancing legal duties • Key areas: events and individuals • Promoting Good Campus Relations • Next steps

3. The Prevent Duty “…duty on ‘specified authorities’, when exercising their functions, to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. Extremism and non-violent extremism are seen as producing an environment conducive to people being draw into terrorism, so the duty extends to not creating an atmosphere conducive to terrorism and challenging extremist views. This is terrorism of any form so could be religious, cultural or political. Compliance with the Prevent duty “requires that properly thought through procedures and policies are in place…and properly followed and applied”. This is not new new is the specific requirements & monitoring

4. The Prevent Duty • Active engagement from senior management • Institutional risk assessment and action plan • Sufficient and effective staff training • Procedures for sharing information internally and externally “about vulnerable individuals” • Chaplaincy support & policies for use of prayer rooms • IT policies – reference and consider filters • Policies for working on sensitive or extremism-related research, for staff and students • Ensuring clarity on working with SUs (as a separate org) • Complying with any monitoring requirements • External speakers / events

5. Balancing legal duties Education (No. 2) Act 1986 section 43 – statutory obligation of institutions to take reasonably practicable steps to ensure that freedom of speech within the law is secured for members, staff, students and visiting speakers – ensure the use of premises is not denied on the basis of the views of that person/body or on the basis of the policy/objectives of that body ECHR – right to freedom of expression, right of freedom of thought, conscience or religion Equality Act – protect from harassment (unwanted conduct... violate dignity or creating degrading… offensive… intimidating environment)

6. The Prevent Duty – key areas • Management of external speakers and events • safeguards in place • not providing a platform for offences to be committed • having a system for assessing and rating risks associated with any planned events, and for mitigating risks • institutions need to consider in advance whether “the views being expressed, or likely to be expressed, constitute extremist views that risk drawing people into terrorism or are shared by terrorist groups”

8. Promoting Good Campus Relations • Policies and procedures • GCR Group • Collaboration & liaison • Focus on freedom within the law Supporting Vulnerable Students • Identifying students with radical views and responding appropriately (pastoral support, referring on to various agencies etc.) • Personal tutoring arrangements • Prevent and related training • Clarity on raising concerns • Encouraging open debate & tolerance

9. Prevent – integrated approach

10. Next steps • Compliance activities • Training plan – extending beyond front-line staff, awaiting UUK online training • Communications plan – sharing information, approach, support for staff and students • Student engagement – your views? What more should we do? Resources http://www.sgul.ac.uk/about-us/governance/equality-and-diversity/religion-and-belief https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/445916/Prevent_Duty_Guidance_For_Higher_Education__England__Wales_.pdf

12. Monitoring and Compliance • Initial self assessment on state of preparedness – submitted  • 1 April – full set of documentation (risk assessment, action plan, all policies and procedures, narrative summary report) • 1 December – first full monitoring (annual report – update on above + data on events, training) signed off by Council • 5 yearly review cycle + serious incidents whenever they occur Does not cover SU (as a separate charitable organisation) but does cover SU events held on SGUL premises. Does not cover UNic or placements outside SGUL premises, but does cover SGUL branded events off site. HEFCE BIS Home Office ‘power of direction’….