This guidance has been issued under sections 36(7) and 38(6) of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (the CT&S Act) to support panel members and partners of local panels.

2. Sections 36 to 41 of the CT&S Act 2015 sets out the duty on local authorities and partners of local panels to provide support for people vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism. In England and Wales this duty is the Channel programme. For the purpose of this guidance, the term ‘Channel’ or ‘Channel programme’ refers to the duty to as set out in the CT&S Act 2015.

3. This guidance is specifically aimed at members and partners of local panels involved in the Channel process. The list of partners of local panels subject to the provision can be found in Schedule 7 of the CT&S Act (also replicated in within Annex B of this guidance). The Channel Police Practitioner and the Local Authority Chair are key participants in the Channel process; developing a strong working relationship between partners is vital to the success of Channel.

4. The purpose of this document is to:

1. provide guidance for Channel panels;

2. provide guidance for panel partners on Channel delivery (that is, those authorities

listed in Schedule 7 to the CT&S Act who are required to co-operate with Channel panels and the police in the carrying out of their respective functions in Chapter 2 of Part 5 of the CT&S Act – the list is also replicated in Annex B of this guidance);

c. explain why people may be vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism and describe indicators which may suggest so; and

d. provide guidance on the support that can be provided to safeguard those at risk of being drawn into terrorism.