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2 December 2025
11pm on 5 January 2026
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CONTEST is the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy established in 2003 to tackle all forms of terrorism (updated 2023). The core CONTEST framework, which has long been recognised as world-leading, remains unchanged from earlier iterations of the strategy. Our work to Prevent people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism; and Pursue terrorists to disrupt their plots is designed to reduce the threat. Our efforts to Protect against a terrorist attack reduce our vulnerability, and efforts to Prepare to mitigate the impact of any attack are designed to reduce the impact.
The aim of Prevent is to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Our Prevent work also extends to supporting the rehabilitation and disengagement of those already involved in terrorism.
The objectives of Prevent are:
· tackling the ideological causes of terrorism
· intervening early to support people susceptible to radicalisation
· enabling people who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate
In the UK, delivery of early intervention support to people susceptible to radicalisation begins with referrals to Prevent. Anyone can make a Prevent referral and under the Prevent Duty, institutions including schools, colleges, universities, health authorities, local authorities, police, and prisons must consider the risk of radicalisation as part of their day-to-day safeguarding work. This includes referring individuals susceptible to radicalisation to Prevent for support.
Where the police assess a radicalisation risk following a Prevent referral, a Channel panel - chaired by the local authority, and attended by multi-agency partners such as police, education professionals, health services, housing and social services - will meet to assess the risk and agree a tailored package of support. Channel is a voluntary process, and individuals must give their consent before they receive support. Where risks cannot be managed in Channel, they will be kept under review by the police.
The Desistance and Disengagement Programme provides tailored interventions that support individuals to stop participating in terrorism-related activity (desist) and move away from terrorist ideology and ways of thinking (disengage). Specialist providers deliver interventions in prisons and in the community including theological, ideological and practical mentoring, to reduce the offending risk.
Recent reforms to strengthen Prevent have been instigated under the direction of the Home Secretary. These reforms ensure that the programme keeps pace with the increasingly complex and evolving terrorist threat, by stopping people from being drawn towards dangerous and extremist ideologies, carrying out acts of terrorism or supporting terrorism. Each measure is either in progress or already completed, including:
· conducting an end-to-end review of Prevent thresholds, and updating policy and guidance, including on repeat referrals, to ensure they reflect the full range of threats we see today.
· broadening the interventions available to people supported by the Channel early intervention programme – in addition to ideological mentoring, we will seek to reflect the increasingly diverse drivers of radicalisation, by exploring options to support at-risk individuals with cyber skills, family interventions, or practical mentoring.
· undertaking a strategic policy review to identify and drive improvements in how individuals referred into Prevent who are neurodivergent or suffer from mental ill-health are supported and managed.
· strengthening our approach to the monitoring and oversight of referrals that do not meet Prevent thresholds, using pilot findings (expected in the New Year) to test new approaches to cases that are transferred to other services to ensure there is proper monitoring and requirements in place.
As part of these reforms, a new substantive Independent Prevent Commissioner will also be recruited with the specific remit of reviewing the programme’s effectiveness, identifying gaps and problems before they emerge.
Title: Independent Prevent Commissioner
Roles Available: One
Commitment: 1-2 days per week
Remuneration: £1200 per day (plus VAT), with reasonable expenses also paid.
Appointment: Three-year fixed term appointment as an office holder with the possibility of re-appointment.
Location: Flexible, with regular travel to Central London. The role covers Prevent in England, Wales and Scotland.
Reporting to: Home Secretary
Purpose:
The Independent Prevent Commissioner’s role is to provide an independent strategic oversight and review function for Prevent to ensure that it can meet its objectives as effectively as possible. The Commissioner will also be supported by the Office of the Independent Prevent Commissioner (OIPC), which provides a platform for the public and practitioners to share feedback, experiences and raise concerns about the delivery of Prevent.
The Independent Prevent Commissioner will be a high profile, publicly important role. The Commissioner may need to engage with the public, invite challenge from Prevent’s critics, capture best practice, and understand the role of the Prevent programme in stopping people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
The Commissioner’s reports will inform the development of public policy in counter-terrorism and how that interacts with societal integration, public health, faith and communities. Their recommendations must be meaningful, proportionate and actionable, with the implications of their implementation rigorously considered.
In addition, Prevent naturally attracts significant attention and it is likely that the Independent Prevent Commissioner may be called upon to take part in public debates, give evidence to Parliamentary Committees and international bodies, consult with communities and comment on Prevent-related issues. When doing so, the Commissioner should take into account the Seven Principles of Public Life (see Terms of Appointment).
The Commissioner will have the Responsibilities as set out below.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Commissioner’s primary responsibilities will be (1) reviewing; (2) oversight; and (3) investigating concerns about Prevent.
1. Reviewing
The Commissioner will review Prevent legislation, policy and implementation to ensure that Prevent can effectively meet its objectives to provide early intervention and stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
· The Commissioner will set their own review work programme, providing progress reports to the Home Secretary. The Terms of Reference for any reviews will be devised by the Commissioner, to be agreed with the Home Secretary.
· Parliament, the Home Secretary or other Ministers may, at any time, require the Commissioner to report on any matter relating to Prevent.
· Interim findings or similar may be provided to the public, the Home Secretary or other partners at the Commissioner’s discretion.
· Unless agreed otherwise, the Commissioner will provide any reviews/reports to the Home Secretary before publication or public release.
· The Commissioner may publish an executive summary (subject to security checks), with the publication or disclosure of full reports only as approved by the Home Secretary or agreed in advance.
2. Oversight
The Commissioner will oversee the government’s implementation of accepted recommendations from reports and reviews.
· The Commissioner will provide independent scrutiny of the system’s oversight, currently provided by Homeland Security Group CT Directorate, wider CONTEST structures, and the Prevent Ministerial Oversight Board.
· The Commissioner will monitor current system oversight structures to ensure they are holding Prevent to account on fulfilling its agreed commitments.
· Findings and recommendations should be set out in regular reports, which may be laid by Ministers before Parliament (subject to departmental clearance).
3. Investigating concerns about Prevent
The Independent Prevent Commissioner will lead the Office of the Independent Prevent Commissioner (OIPC).
· This Office provides a clear and accessible route for the public and practitioners to share feedback, experiences and raise concerns about the delivery of Prevent.
· Under the direction of the Home Secretary or Home Office Ministers, the OIPC can also support Commissioner-led investigations to address systemic concerns regarding Prevent delivery, and provide oversight and assurance of Prevent Learning Reviews.
PART ONE: ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
· Proven track record in managing relationships with diverse stakeholders who have differing priorities.
· Knowledge and experience of building relationships with statutory bodies, and the capability to conduct challenging conversations.
· An understanding of how to improve strategic delivery and a successful track record in promoting the use of good practice.
· Evidence of strategic leadership at senior levels of government, law enforcement, civil society, the public sector or academia.
· Evidence of representing organisations in public, including in the media and with a range of stakeholders.
· Strong communication, negotiating and interpersonal skills to build effective working relationships with Ministers, policy owners, government departments, the media, and other key stakeholders, including the wider public sector, civil society, law enforcement and local communities.
PART TWO: KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
You should also be able to demonstrate:
· A clear understanding of the role of evidence-based analysis in informing policy in an area of political and public attention and sensitivity.
· Ability to be a highly regarded, credible and confident leader, with the ability to lead effective boards and organisations.
· Ability to provide robust, independent advice, under a high level of public interest and scrutiny, and use a public profile to build consensus.
· Credibility with governments, the sector, industry and the public.
· Experience in one or more sectors related to Prevent is desirable.
As a holder of a public office the Commissioner is expected to follow the Seven Principles of Public Life, as set out by the Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life.
Due Diligence: Please note that as part of the recruitment process, due diligence, including social media checks will be undertaken on the appointable candidates.
Some public appointments are made by the Prime Minister, or the Crown on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Others are made by Secretaries of State or other ministers and are of interest to the Prime Minister.
Public appointments made by or of interest to the Prime Minister
The closing date for applications is 23:00 on Monday 05 January 2026.
Please submit the following two documents, clearly labelled. In order to apply, you will need to click on one of the links below, depending on if you have already set up an account on the Public Appointment website.
https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/create-account
https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/auth/sign-in
1. A concise CV (maximum two sides A4, minimum 12 font) setting out your career history and including details of any professional qualifications.
2. A short supporting statement (maximum two sides A4, minimum 12 font) giving evidence of the strength and depth of your ability to meet the essential criteria for the role. Please provide specific examples to demonstrate how you meet each of the experience, qualities and skill areas identified in the person specification.
Please submit your application documents as two separate attachments and note that short-listed candidates will also be required to complete and return a separate form in relation to referees and nationality information.
Please note the following:
• We cannot accept applications submitted after the closing date.
• Applications will be assessed solely on the documentation provided. Please refer to the advert and checklist to ensure you have provided the necessary documentation.
• Applications will be acknowledged upon receipt.
• Feedback will only be given to unsuccessful candidates following interview.
Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions. To apply, all candidates are required to provide:
We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate. You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.
The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.
Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.
The assessment process
Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.
An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.
At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.
Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.
The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.
Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.
Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.
Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.
The Panel will be chaired by Dr Michelle Haslem (Director General, Homeland Security Group), and comprise Kate Dixon (Director School Curriculum, Pastoral Care and Safeguarding, Department for Education), and Sir Peter Gross as Independent Panel Member.
In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.
There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.
The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards.
You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:
you are disqualified from acting as a company director (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);
have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;
your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.
When you apply, you should declare if:
you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this.
you are subject to a current police investigation.
You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points.
When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.