Section 36: Assessment and support: local panels
204.Subsection (1) requires local authorities to ensure that a panel is in place for its area for the purposes of assessing the extent to which individuals referred to the panel by the police (“identified individuals”, defined in subsection (2)) are vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism, and to perform the functions mentioned in subsection (4).
205.Subsection (3) provides that referrals to these panels may only be made by the police if they have reasonable grounds to believe that an individual is vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.
206.Subsection (4) provides that the panel should prepare a support plan in respect of any identified individual whom the panel considers should be offered support and if that individual (or, if under the age of 18, his or her parent or guardian) consents, the panel must make arrangements for support to be provided in accordance with the plan. The subsection also makes provision about keeping the plan under review, revising it, withdrawing support under a plan and carrying out further assessments of the person’s vulnerability to being drawn into terrorism.
207.Subsection (5) makes provision for what the support plan must cover (for example, the nature of the support to be provided, who is to provide it and how and when it is to be provided).
208.Subsection (6) provides that if the panel decides that support should not be provided to an identified individual, the panel must consider whether the individual ought to be referred to a provider of any health or social care services, and if so, make such arrangements as it considers appropriate for the purpose of referring the individual.
209.Subsection (7) establishes that the panel must have regard to statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State about the exercise of the panel’s functions. Subsection (8) provides that before issuing any guidance the Secretary of State must consult (a) the Welsh Ministers so far as the guidance relates to panels in Wales; (b) the Scottish Ministers so far as the guidance relates to panels in Scotland; and (c) any person whom the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
