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Murray Edwards College
University of Cambridge

Prevent Policy

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Prevent Policy

Adopted: May 2020
Review Due: Easter Term 2023

Purpose

Murray Edwards College is required under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 to ‘have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’.  Under section 29, it must have regard to guidance issued by the Home Secretary.  

Scope

The Prevent Policy applies to all Fellows, staff and students of Murray Edwards College.   

Approach

  1. The College takes seriously its responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students, staff, Fellows and the wider community and as part of this would wish to do all that it can to prevent any member of the college community from being drawn into terrorism.  It also values the principles of academic freedom and general freedom of expression and has a statutory duty to protect them.
     
  2. The Senior Tutor has been identified as the member of senior management responsible for ensuring that the College complies appropriately with the Prevent Duty, in liaison with key stakeholders within and beyond the College, including the Prevent Committee.  An annual accountability and monitoring return to the Office for Students will be produced, in compliance with the ongoing conditions of the College’s registration.
     
  3. As required by the Prevent Duty, the College carries out assessments of the risk of College members being drawn into terrorism.  This risk assessment is reviewed at least annually by the Prevent Committee.   Where any significant risk is identified, the College will consider what action might mitigate the impact/likelihood of that risk crystallising.
     
  4. The College will ensure that it meets the different legal requirements, not least the duty under the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 to secure freedom of speech within the law.  In complying with the Prevent Duty, the College will not provide a platform for any proscribed terrorist organisation or encourage terrorism in any way.
     
  5. The College will carry out training on a regular basis for all relevant staff so that they can recognise those who are vulnerable of being drawn into terrorism and potential signs of radicalisation.  This training will include an explanation of how to handle appropriately and sensitively any concern that may emerge.  
     
  6. The College will support vulnerable students in whatever circumstance they find themselves, recognising that radicalisation could occasionally be occurring when certain behaviour is manifest but that other explanations will usually apply.  The College seeks to ensure that appropriate provision is made for those of any faith (or those without faith) to access appropriate facilities for pastoral care and for religious purposes.
     
  7. The College considers it unacceptable for its IT networks to be used in any way that supports, promotes or facilitates terrorism.  Social media services provide new avenues for the distribution and accessing of extremist material, and the College takes the challenges presented by social media very seriously.
     
  8. The College will not permit material supporting terrorism to be displayed within College premises and will remove any such material if it is found.  Likewise, it will seek to ensure that the College’s printed and electronic communications (including its website) do not contain or support terrorist material or material likely to encourage terrorism and will investigate immediately if any such instances are raised.  It is acknowledged that there will be legitimate reasons to display materials relating to terrorism as part of legitimate teaching and research activities.

Roles and Responsibilities

  1. The Council is responsible for approving the Prevent Policy and for approving the College’s annual accountability and monitoring return to the Office for Students in compliance with the ongoing conditions of the College’s registration.
  2. The Prevent Committee will review the policies, risk assessments and resulting action plans relating to the College’s duties under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act.  They will compile College’s annual accountability and monitoring return to the Office for Students in compliance with the ongoing conditions of the College’s registration.
  3. All Fellows, staff and students should be aware of the College’s responsibilities under the Prevent Duty and of the measures set out above to comply with it.   Members of the college community who are concerned about a student who might be at risk of being drawn into terrorism should report this to their line manager or the Senior Tutor.  Concerns about Fellows or staff who might be at risk of being drawn into terrorism should be reported to the Senior Tutor.

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