Radicalisation
Radicalisation is the process of a person legitimising support for, or use of, terrorist violence.
Susceptibility
Susceptibility is complex and unique to a person's circumstances.
Within Prevent, susceptibility refers to the fact that a person may be likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by terrorist and extremist ideologies that support or radicalise people into terrorism. Please see the 'susceptibility to radicalisation' section of the Prevent duty guidance 2023.
As set out in the Prevent duty guidance, a person's susceptibility may be linked to their vulnerability, but not all people susceptible to radicalisation will be vulnerable. There may be other circumstances, needs or other underlying factors that may make a person susceptible to radicalisation but do not constitute a vulnerability.
Terrorism
The current UK definition is set out in the Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT 2000). In summary this defines terrorism as 'The use or threat of serious violence against a person or serious damage to property where that action is:
- designed to influence the government or an international governmental organisation or to intimidate the public or a section of the public; and
- for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.'
Vulnerability
Vulnerability describes the condition of being in need of special care, support, or protection because of age, disability, risk of abuse or neglect.