In the UK Prevent context, radicalisation means the process by which a person comes to support, justify or be prepared to use terrorism or extremist violence, usually because they adopt an extremist ideology.

Core meaning in the Prevent context

  • It is described as a process , not a single moment or belief change.
  • That process involves a person increasingly accepting or legitimising terrorism or violent extremism as acceptable or necessary.
  • It is tied to ideology – a set of beliefs or narratives that promote or excuse violence to achieve political, religious or ideological goals.

A typical working definition used in safeguarding material linked to Prevent is: “the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies associated with terrorist groups.”

How this links to Prevent

Under the UK’s CONTEST counter‑terrorism strategy, Prevent is the strand focused on stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

So, in practice:

  • Radicalisation = the journey towards supporting or using terrorist violence.
  • Prevent = the policies and duties aimed at spotting that journey early and intervening so the person does not go on to support or engage in terrorism.

Quick example

If a young person gradually starts believing that violence against certain groups is justified, begins consuming and sharing extremist propaganda online, and starts to express support for a terrorist organisation, Prevent guidance would say they are on a radicalisation pathway because they are legitimising support for terrorist violence and ideology.

TL;DR:
In the Prevent context, radicalisation is the step‑by‑step process through which someone adopts extremist beliefs to the point that they support, excuse or are willing to engage in terrorism or terrorist‑linked violence.