Case study b
Sarah is a bright and thoughtful young woman taking a land based studies course.
She is a residential student at a land-based college. She becomes increasingly introverted and withdraws from social groups in the college.
It is noted by pastoral staff that she spends much of her leisure time alone in her room on her PC.
Her parents contact the college to say that they are concerned about how withdrawn she has become when she comes home at weekends.
Then fellow students comment to staff that she is posting comments on her Facebook account about her sympathy for animal rights extremists who have been convicted for attempting to blow up the car of a scientist at a pharmaceutical research centre.
She says in one comment that all scientists working on animals deserve to die.
Activity
If this is referred to you what would you do? Make a note of your thoughts in your notepad before clicking on the link to view our suggestions.
Staff would be expected to report Sarah to the designated Safeguarding or Prevent officer.
The Safeguarding officer should assess the situation and if they feel that there is a risk of radicalisation, they should seek advice/guidance from their local Prevent coordinator or the local Prevent team.
Individuals, or their parents' or guardians if under 18, do need to give consent to be referred to Channel but not for referral to the local Prevent team or coordinator.
If someone refuses to go through the Channel process or is not judged to need to go through the Channel process the organisation will need to decide whether additional support may be needed, often with partner organisations.