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Lynch, Cathal (2025) Prevent, Channel, and Safeguarding Against Radicalisation in England and Wales: A Social Work Perspective. PhD thesis, University of Gloucestershire. doi:10.46289/WIFF1196
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15815 Lynch (2025) Prevent, Channel, and Safeguarding Against Radicalisation in England and Wales.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License All Rights Reserved. Download (3MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Since its inception in 2003 and first publication in 2006, the Prevent strategy of England and Wales has been divisive, with concerns raised about the over-emphasis on Muslims. Critics believed the strategy would result in surveillance and securitisation, with the most vocal critics I describe as the “anti-Prevent camp” seeing Prevent as fundamentally flawed and needing to be withdrawn. Contrasting this is the “pro-Prevent camp”, often composed of politicians and right leaning thinktanks, who are staunchly defending of Prevent. Conceptually this study provides a critical history of Prevent in four ‘waves’, unpicking the arguments of both camps in the process to see which views can be evidenced and stand up to scrutiny. A key issue in all discourses around Prevent and Channel is a lack of primary data to provide any meaningful conclusions. This study makes an original contribution to knowledge though its qualitative approach that used semi-structured interviews with participants who have attended Channel panels, which are the multi-agency operational arm of Prevent where referrals are adopted for bespoke support. The research sought to understand the issues presenting at Channel, how practitioners conceptualise them, and how effective the safeguarding interventions devised by panels are. Through Thematic Analysis, four themes were identified in the data and the study concludes with recommendations, highlighting the hostile environment experienced in recruitment for the research and subsequent challenges for future research. Despite these challenges, the study presents an original contribution, a rare usage of primary data, and a balanced criticality towards the conceptual and practical issues in Prevent and Channel.
| Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | |||||||||
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Prevent strategy; Channel; radicalisation; safeguarding; social work; England; Wales | |||||||||
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology. > HV40-69 Social Work | |||||||||
| Divisions: | Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education, Health and Sciences | |||||||||
| Depositing User: | Anne Pengelly | |||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 04 Feb 2026 12:22 | |||||||||
| Last Modified: | 04 Feb 2026 12:22 | |||||||||
| URI: | https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/15815 |
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