Prevent Tragedies | Where to get help with concerns about radicalisation

Q: Is this an official police or government website?

No. This is an independent information page and is not affiliated with the police, the Home Office, Counter Terrorism Policing or the original 2015 Prevent Tragedies campaign. It exists only to point people towards the current official services.

Q: Who do I contact if I am worried someone is being radicalised?

Call the ACT Early Support Line on 0800 011 3764, open 9am to 5pm every day. The line is run by specially trained Counter Terrorism Policing officers. You can also visit actearly.uk for advice. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.

In an emergency, call 999. If you believe someone is in immediate danger, or you have information about a possible attack, contact the police straight away.

Where to get help

If something does not feel right about a friend or family member, trusting that instinct and asking for advice early is the most helpful thing you can do. Reaching out is about support, not punishment, and a conversation can often simply put your mind at rest.

ACT Early Support Line

Run by specially trained Counter Terrorism Policing officers. Calls are confidential, and you will not be wasting anyone's time.

0800 011 3764

Open 9am to 5pm, every day. Calls outside these hours are transferred to specialist officers.

You do not have to speak to the police if you would prefer not to. You can also talk to a teacher, a GP or health professional, a faith or community leader, or your local council's safeguarding team.

Official resources

The links below go to current, official UK services. We recommend starting with ACT Early, which is the dedicated national service for this.

ACT Early — actearly.uk
The national safeguarding website from Counter Terrorism Policing. Advice on what to look for, how to start a conversation, online safety, and how to share concerns in confidence.
GOV.UK — Get help for radicalisation concerns
Official government guidance explaining the Prevent programme, how referrals work, and what support is offered to people at risk.
Police.uk — Contact your local force
Find and contact your local police force directly if you wish to raise a concern with them.
GOV.UK — Find your local council
Your local authority will have a safeguarding lead who can help. Use this to find your council's contact details.

Recognising the signs

There is no single route to radicalisation, and no one sign confirms it. What matters more than any single behaviour is the overall feeling that something is not right, and how intense or sudden a change seems. Possible signs to be aware of include:

Becoming withdrawn or secretive, particularly about online activity

A new unwillingness to accept other points of view

Strong feelings of isolation, grievance or not belonging

Sudden changes in friends, language or daily routine

Increasing anger or an "us and them" view of the world

Being drawn to conspiracy theories or extremist content online

Many of these can also be ordinary parts of growing up. If you are unsure, that is exactly the right time to ask for advice.

Common questions

Is this an official police or government website?

No. This is an independent information page. It is not affiliated with the police, the Home Office, Counter Terrorism Policing, or the original 2015 Prevent Tragedies campaign. The domain previously hosted that police campaign, which has since been retired. This page exists only to direct people to the current official services listed above.

Will I get someone into trouble by reaching out?

Reaching out early is about getting support, not punishment. Counter Terrorism Policing have been clear that they only take action when help is genuinely needed, and that their approach treats people as potentially vulnerable rather than as suspects. If there turns out to be no cause for concern, a conversation can simply give you peace of mind.

What happens after I contact ACT Early?

Trained officers will listen to your concerns in confidence and talk through what, if anything, is needed. Where appropriate, the person may be offered voluntary support to help them move away from harmful influences. The aim is early help, well before any situation could escalate.

What was the original Prevent Tragedies campaign?

Prevent Tragedies was a UK counter-terrorism communications campaign launched in 2015 by the police, encouraging families to talk about and report concerns about radicalisation. That campaign has since ended, and its national role has been succeeded by the ACT Early service at actearly.uk.