The Committee received a presentation from Anne Corbett (Divisional Director - Community Safety); Simon Smith (Prevent Co-ordinator) and Emily Fieran Reed (Service Manager Cohesion Engagement and Commissioning) that provided an update on the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the delivery of the Prevent Duty in Tower Hamlets which was undertaken in 2016.  The review the Committee was reminded had included representatives from the Council, community members and other local authorities. The session had focused upon the impact the delivery of the Prevent Duty had, had on young people, how the approach in delivery reflected the priorities of Tower Hamlets and the local challenges in meeting those obligations. The Committee had made a number of recommendations to improve delivery within Tower Hamlets and service areas have implemented the action plan which was produced to address the recommendations identified as part of the review. It was noted that this report provided an update on the progress of the recommendations:

The questions and comments from Members on the presentation may be summarised as follows:

The Committee:

·         Noted that a significant amount of work had been undertaken in local schools around safe guarding which is far greater than in other areas of London including a regular and thorough assessment;

·         Noted that the Boroughs Tension Monitoring Group has looked at hate crime incidents in depth with community leaders and how the response to such incidents can be addressed and how to provide to reassurance for the local community;

·         Noted that the Home Office are currently reviewing the training on offer for agencies on radicalisation to ensure that it is fit for purpose;

·         Noted that the development of greater community cohesion will have considerable benefit for a wide section of the community;

·         Noted that consideration is being given to look at programmes to foster a wider level of cohesion and consider the make-up of our schools and to ensure those who are home schooled get the support that they need.  In addition, work was being undertaken to increased good neighbourliness as part of living in a diverse London Borough;

·         Noted that an established procedure is in place to address the radicalisation of those individuals returning from Syria;

·         Noted that the Third Sector is keen to help the Council with working on this and to develop a cohesive response to addressing community cohesion; and

·         Noted that in regard to the management of social media the Council are working with providers of social media sites to make it clear what is seen on social media is not necessarily true.

The Chair Moved and it was:-

RESOLVED