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Prevent (Counter-Terrorism) Duty

As part of the UK Government’s strategy to reduce terrorism, the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 introduced new measures aimed at countering the risk of terrorism and radicalisation. Under the Act, the University must show ‘due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’.

As an institution of higher education, the OU has an important role in providing appropriate platforms to challenge extremist views and ideologies through the provision of learning and research and the protection of academic freedom and promotion of free speech, debate and liberal values. Preventing people from being drawn into terrorism is synonymous with our concern for student and staff welfare and wellbeing. These factors and other important aspects of our response to the Duty are contained in a set of OU Prevent Principles (pdf 192kb) agreed by The Council.

The OU has taken steps to meet the requirements of the legislation by identifying where the risks of people being drawn into terrorism might arise and by amending policies and procedures to address these risks. 

If you are a student, a member of staff or an associate of the University and you believe that you are being targeted in any way to being drawn into extremism or to being radicalised or you observe this occurring in any Open University environment, please contact the OU Prevent Co-ordinator for confidential advice on how to deal with the matter.

You can read further information about the OU’s response (internal only). If you have any questions or comments regarding any aspect of the University’s response to the Duty, you can contact the OU Prevent Co-ordinator

Prevent training and further information please access Prevent-related training and resources.