Prevent

How the University implements the Prevent duty in the context of its pre-existing statutory framework.

A Steering Group, chaired by the University Registrar, and comprised of representatives from the academic divisions, elected members of Congregation, UAS and the Conference of Colleges, oversees how the Prevent Duty is implemented at the University in the context of the University’s pre-existing statutory framework, including the Education Act 1986, the Education Reform Act 1988, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010.

The Steering Group works closely with the Conference of Colleges on the Prevent Duty. The University and each of the Oxford colleges, which are separate legal entities, are regulated and monitored separately by the Office for Students. Congregation has confirmed its commitment to harmonising the policies and approaches across the collegiate University in accordance with the sentiment expressed by the Warden of Wadham, former Chair of the Conference of Colleges Working Group on the Prevent Duty, who stated that:

“Prevent must not be implemented in such a way that it overrides those existing rights without which the University of Oxford could not function as a place of higher learning. These existing rights include the rights to free expression, academic freedom, autonomy, confidentiality, privacy and equal treatment under the law – it is vital that the University continues to assert the importance of those rights.”

Universities were required to review particular policies and procedures in light of the Prevent duty. The Prevent Duty Steering Group ensured that recommendations for any changes to policies and procedures were considered, and where appropriate, approved by the relevant University committee(s). In July 2016, Council approved the University submission to HEFCE designed to show how the University was meeting its obligations under Prevent. Each college also submitted a return. Two changes were made to University policy: the Code of Practice on Meetings and Events was updated and the IT Regulations now state that 'users are not permitted to use university IT or network facilities … with the intention of drawing people into terrorism', as explicitly required by the new legislation. Council noted that any welfare concerns related to a student or member of staff being drawn into terrorism are to be addressed in the same way as any other welfare matter. The University and the colleges have agreed that only the Registrar is authorised to make an external referral under Prevent.

The Steering Group is committed to ensuring that the Prevent duty does not impact upon research, education, debate, discussion, teaching, or scholarship at Oxford, or affect Oxford’s academic core values and practices.

Council conducts a regular review to ensure that changes to University regulations and procedures associated with the Prevent legislation, and any actions taken in relation to Prevent are not undermining, remain subject to, and are operating in a manner to positively secure and protect the rights of academics, students, staff, and visiting speakers under existing laws, including the Education (No 2) Act 1986, the Human Rights Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010, and data protection legislation.

Questions or concerns about Prevent

The University has a Steering Group to oversee the implementation of the statutory duty. Membership of the group can be found on the Prevent Steering Group OxIntranet page. If you have questions about the work of the University Steering Group or the impact of the Prevent duty, or would like to provide feedback on how the duty is being implemented by the University, please email [email protected] in the first instance.

Related information

• Internal Review Report 2017 (Single Sign On required)

The University views Prevent as a strand of its welfare responsibilities.

The collegiate University has an extensive and long established system of welfare support for students and staff. Further information on student welfare and wellbeing, related policies and available support can be found on the Oxford Students website. Every college has a welfare team, which provides support to students including signposting to specialist services when necessary. Here are links to the welfare sections of college websites.

For members of staff, most departments have arrangements for dealing with welfare matters, and advice and help should always be sought in the first instance within your own department.

If you/your department/faculty would like specialist University advice and support in relation to the welfare of a student or member of staff in the context of the Prevent duty, please contact the Director of Student Welfare and Support Services or the Director of Human Resources (as below), in confidence, on an anonymised basis.

Any referrals or requests for information, advice or assistance outside the University in relation to Prevent may only be made by the Director of Student Welfare and Support Services (in relation to students) or the HR Director (in relation to staff) and only with the explicit approval of the Registrar.

Other concerns

If you have concerns about University examinations or teaching, staff or student conduct, research integrity or services, the Complaints and Appeals webpage provides guidance on who would be the best person to approach.

Here is a link to sources of harassment advice (internal and external) for staff and students.

Please see the More information section for links to related policies and processes.

The application of the Prevent duty to the university sector is different from its application to any other category of public body. This is for two related reasons:

1. Section 31 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act requires universities to have particular regard to their pre-existing statutory obligation (under Section 43 (1) of the Education (No 2) Act 1986) to:

   'take such steps as are reasonably practicable ensure that freedom of speech within the law is secured for members, students and employees of the establishment and for visiting speakers'.
    

2. The foundational importance of free expression to intellectual inquiry and therefore to the central purpose of a university, means a university cannot properly function in its absence.

This point is acknowledged in section 31 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act which notes that under the Prevent duty, universities must 'have particular regard' to both 'the duty to ensure freedom of speech' and 'the importance of academic freedom'. 

The University is committed to ensuring that Prevent is implemented in such a way that does not:

• undermine free expression and academic freedom
• undermine the autonomy of academics, staff and students
• undermine confidence in relationships within the University
• result in discriminatory outcomes

The government’s Prevent duty guidance requires universities to consider and review their policies and procedures in a number of areas, including the management of events that take place on University premises, or are University affiliated, funded, or branded or hosted online. In carrying out this duty, section 31 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 requires the University to have particular regard to its pre-existing duty (under section 43 of the Education (No 2) Act 1986) 'to take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that freedom of speech within the law is secured for members, students and employees of the establishment and for visiting speakers'. In response to the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, the University has replaced its former Code of Practice on Meetings and Events with a new Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech.

The new Code retains the established decision-making structure for meetings and events, entrusting the decision-making to the Proctors. The University will always aim to allow an event to go ahead, provided that it is within the law and does not pose unacceptable risks to individuals, and will work with the organisers towards this goal.

Those who are organising meetings or events or are responsible for administering external bookings of University premises are responsible for assessing whether there are any major issues in the context of the University Code, and referring to the Proctors as necessary. The Proctors shall act in a risk-based and proportionate manner and with the object, wherever possible, of enabling events or meetings to proceed. It is not anticipated that events and meetings which have been organised as part of the academic curriculum, co-curriculum or other usual academic events would cause concern such as to require formal referral to the Proctors under the provisions of the Code. The Code also applies to all online meetings and events specifically run by staff, students or an affiliated group – if they are branded and presented as a University event.

To find out more about the referral process, or to make a referral, visit the Meetings and Events page on the Academic Support OxIntranet site.

Approved by the General Purposes Committee of Council on 2 May 2017

1. Rooms used to hold meetings or events at the University:
   1. are under the authority of (i) the Head of Department (or their nominee) responsible for the department’s space or (ii) University Administration and Services (UAS) in the case of UAS-managed University-level facilities; and
   2. must be booked for use in accordance with the guidelines set down by the relevant Head of Department or the Registrar (as Head of UAS).
2. All staff and students of the University who are organising meetings or events, or are responsible for booking space or arranging facilities for University events, must follow the University’s Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech. (The Code applies to all meetings and events held on University premises (including those organised by third parties), as well as all University funded, affiliated and branded events regardless of location, and those hosted online).

Does the code apply if I’m organising an event for a student club?

If the event is being held on University premises: yes.

If the club has permission to use the University name or logo and is doing so, or is using University funding to hold the event: yes, no matter where the event is held.

Does the code apply if I'm organising an online meeting or event?

The Code also applies to all online meetings and events specifically run by staff, students or an affiliated group – if they are branded and presented as a University event.

Does the code apply if I’m organising an event on college premises?

If University branding or funding is used for the event: yes.

If no University branding or funding is used for the event: no, though you should consider the college’s protocols.

I’m organising a University branded or funded event on college premises, which code applies?

Both. If conditions are imposed both under the University’s code and under the college’s protocols, you will be responsible for complying with both sets of conditions.

The government’s Prevent duty guidance requires universities to demonstrate that they are 'willing to undertake Prevent awareness training'; the guidance is not prescriptive about the format or content of the training and a broad interpretation, including general awareness-raising, briefings incorporated with other training etc is acceptable.

The University's Co-Director of Student Welfare and Support Services runs an annual Prevent briefing session for those with welfare responsibilities in departments and colleges - Understanding the Prevent Duty – extended presentation (60 minutes) has been recorded and is available to view online. A shorter version of the session - Understanding the Prevent Duty (30 minute course) - is also available as a ‘refresher’ for those who have completed the training in previous years and for those staff who need to have an awareness of the Duty and what to do if they have concerns, but do not need as in-depth knowledge.

A 2-page Prevent summary (Single Sign On required) is also available.

Relevant training is delivered by the Equality and Diversity Unit and Learning and Organisational Development (LOD)

• Equality and Diversity briefing (OxIntranet)
• Implicit bias in the workplace (OxIntranet)
• Cultural awareness in the workplace
• Browse these and other courses at the full LOD course listing (OxIntranet)

Other training/briefings

• Conference of Colleges: Prevent briefing