Counter terrorism

Current threat level

Find out the current threat from international terrorism on the MI5 website.

How can I help?

The police and the security and intelligence agencies depend on information from the public. You can help to keep yourself, your family and your local community safe by looking out for any activity that seems to be unusual and reporting it to the police, in confidence.

If you are concerned about anything, do not rely on someone else – ACT. The Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) website tells you what sort of activity and behaviour you should report.

You can report it in confidence by:

Online material

You can report illegal or harmful information, pictures or videos you’ve found on the internet such as:

  • articles, images, speeches or videos that promote terrorism or encourage violence
  • content encouraging people to commit acts of terrorism
  • websites made by terrorist or extremist organisations
  • videos of terrorist attacks

Report online material anonymously on the GOV.UK website

Introduction to Prevent

Prevent is part of the UK's counter terrorism strategy. It aims to prevent people from supporting violent extremism and all forms of potential terrorism, such as Al Qaeda, Daesh inspired, far right, Irish republican, animal rights, faith-based extremism and other types of terrorism in all its forms.

We have a legal duty to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. We work with local partners to protect the public, prevent crime and to promote strong, integrated communities. 

Preventing violent extremism is one of the ‘4 Ps’ within the Government’s strategy for countering violent extremism, known as Contest:

  • Prevent - stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting violent extremism
  • Pursue - stopping terrorist attacks
  • Protect - strengthening protection against terrorist attacks
  • Prepare - where an attack cannot be stopped, mitigating its impact

The current Prevent strategy has three key objectives:

  • Respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and of those extremist views conducive to it
  • Prevent vulnerable people from being drawn into terrorism and make sure they receive the appropriate advice and support
  • Work with sectors and institutions where there are either risks of radicalisation or opportunities to prevent it – or both. This includes education, faith, health, charities, prisons and probation. The strategy spells out what the Government is planning in each area and also looks at the particular issue of the Internet

Prevent resources

Online training for front line staff - an introduction to the Prevent duty, which explains how it aims to safeguard vulnerable people from being radicalised to supporting terrorism or becoming terrorists themselves.

Childnet: Trust Me resource for schools - an excellent classroom resource which can support addressing online extremism and propaganda through digital literacy. The resource aims to provoke discussion among students so as to challenge young people to think critically about what they see online and is available with both primary and secondary lesson plans.

Online radicalisation guidance for schools - developed by Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board colleagues to support addressing online radicalisation as part of the broader online safeguarding agenda in schools. The guidance provides a number of considerations and recommendations for schools as well as signposts to a range of freely-available supporting tools and resources.

Childnet - online safety resources for teachers, parents and young people.

Further information

Channel Panel

Channel is a multi-agency safeguarding programme run in every local council. It works to support vulnerable people from being drawn into terrorism and provides a range of support such as mentoring, counselling, assistance with employment.

Channel is about early intervention to protect vulnerable people from being drawn into committing terrorist-related activity and addresses all types of extremism. 

Participation in Channel is voluntary. It is up to an individual, or their parents for children aged 17 and under, to decide whether to take up the support it offers.

Channel does not lead to a criminal record.

The local Channel Panel Chair is Paul Lee, Head of Operations and Safeguarding. Meetings are held on a monthly basis.

If you have any concerns about someone and would like more advice ring 101/999 if urgent, if not then email concern@lancashire.pnn.police.uk.

Any information, advice or concern will be handled with sensitivity and where possible anonymity will be maintained. Referrals can be made directly to the email inbox by any individual or organisation and will be dealt with discreetly.