36Assessment and support: local panels
(1)Each local authority must ensure that a panel of persons is in place for its area—
(a)with the function of assessing the extent to which identified individuals are vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism, and
(b)with the other functions mentioned in subsection (4).
(2)“Identified individual”, in relation to a panel, means an individual who is referred to the panel by a chief officer of police for an assessment of the kind mentioned in subsection (1)(a).
(3)A chief officer of police may refer an individual to a panel only if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the individual is vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.
(4)The functions of a panel referred to in subsection (1)(b) are—
(a)to prepare a plan in respect of identified individuals who the panel considers should be offered support for the purpose of reducing their vulnerability to being drawn into terrorism;
(b)if the necessary consent is given, to make arrangements for support to be provided to those individuals in accordance with their support plan;
(c)to keep under review the giving of support to an identified individual under a support plan;
(d)to revise a support plan, or withdraw support under a plan, if at any time the panel considers it appropriate;
(e)to carry out further assessments, after such periods as the panel considers appropriate, of an individual’s vulnerability to being drawn into terrorism in cases where—
(i)the necessary consent is refused or withdrawn to the giving of support under a support plan, or
(ii)the panel has determined that support under a plan should be withdrawn;
(f)to prepare a further support plan in such cases if the panel considers it appropriate.
(5)A support plan must include the following information—
(a)how, when and by whom a request for the necessary consent is to be made;
(b)the nature of the support to be provided to the identified individual;
(c)the persons who are to be responsible for providing it;
(d)how and when such support is to be provided.
(6)Where in the carrying out of its functions under this section a panel determines that support should not be given to an individual under a support plan, the panel—
(a)must consider whether the individual ought to be referred to a provider of any health or social care services, and
(b)if so, must make such arrangements as the panel considers appropriate for the purpose of referring the individual.
(7)In exercising its functions under this section a panel must have regard to any guidance given by the Secretary of State about the exercise of those functions.
(8)Before issuing guidance under subsection (7) the Secretary of State must (whether before or after this Act is passed) 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;
(c)any person whom the Secretary of State considers appropriate.