Written question asked by Lord Goodman of Wycombe (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 December 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 December 2008. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Monday, 12 January 2009 on behalf of the Home Office.

Community Relations

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who has responsibility for creating the points of referral for vulnerable individuals cited on page 27 of the report The Prevent Strategy: A Guide for Local Partners in England; where these points of referral will be; who will refer vulnerable individuals to these points of referral; what support will be available to those individuals referred; what safeguards will exist to ensure that individuals are not referred mistakenly; what rights of appeal individuals will have against erroneous referrals; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: I have been asked to reply.The Prevent Strategy: a Guide for Local Partners in England makes it clear that local partners, including the police and local authorities need to develop local processes for referral of those vulnerable to radicalisation. A range of agencies and local organisations will refer individuals ranging from community organisations through to further and higher educational organisations and youth offending teams. Local areas should construct a programme of interventions that are appropriately tailored to an individual who has been identified as vulnerable to the pull of violent extremism. When an individual is referred they will be assessed for the level of risk they pose and suitable voluntary interventions, diversionary activity and support will be offered in response.

Secondary information