Prevent Duty
The statutory duty under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 requiring specified authorities (schools, universities, NHS, prisons) to have due regard to preventing people from being drawn into terrorism.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 requires a 'specified authority' to have due regard, in the exercise of its functions, to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. A specified authority is any person or body listed in Schedule 6 to the Act, which includes local authorities, schools, universities, NHS bodies and prisons.
Statutory Prevent duty guidance sets out how specified authorities are expected to comply, and is aimed primarily at senior leadership teams and those with responsibility for resources, funding and external partnerships in specified authorities. Updated guidance issued in 2023 replaced earlier 2015 guidance, and specified authorities must have regard to the current version.
Related terms
Official sources
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