Issue - meetings

In late August 2020, the Local Government Association and the Centre for Public Scrutiny (now the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny) released their guidance on the effective scrutiny of counter-extremism and the Prevent duty.

The guidance was developed with support from the Home Office and as this meeting is themed “Police and Community Safety” it was agreed that the guidance would be brought to this committee meeting.

Police Constable Paul Parkes (Counter Terrorism Policing North West- Cumbria & Lancashire) and Neil Greenwood (Head of Environmental Health & Community Safety) have been invited to the meeting to introduce the guidance.

The Head of Environmental Health and Community Safety, Neil Greenwood and Police Constable Paul Parkes, Counter Terrorism Policing North West-Cumbria and Lancashire were invited to the meeting to introduce the Prevent organisation and the Local Government Association and the Centre for Public Scrutiny (now the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny) guidance on the effective scrutiny of counter-extremism and Prevent duty.

Firstly, the Head of Environmental Health and Community Safety, shared his screen with members which allowed them to see a PowerPoint display that summarised the Contest Strategy (the Government’s revised Counter Terrorism strategy) and the Prevent objectives.

He then highlighted to members the key aspects of the the Prevent organisation in Lancashire and the role of Wyre Council in this.

Police Constable Paul Parkes, also addressed the committee and explained the cases that Prevent were currently dealing with across Lancashire.

During the discussions of this item, members asked the following questions:

-       Is there a particular age profile that is more susceptible to being indoctrinated by extremist activity?

-       Has the COVID-19 lockdowns created a rise in cases?

The Chairman again thanked the Head of Environmental Health and Community Safety and Police Constable Paul Parkes for their attendance and contributions to the meeting.