Far-right cases referred to counter-terror programme Prevent double those for Islamist extremism, new figures show as referrals hit record high
Last year, more right-wing extremists were referred to the government’s counter-terrorism programme, Prevent, than Islamist extremists; new figures show referrals have reached a record high.
According to Home Office figures, 8,778 people have been referred to the government’s counter-extremism program by March 2025.
This figure, which is a 27 percent increase compared to the previous year, is the highest number of referrals recorded since April 2015, when the current data series began.
Far-right concerns accounted for 21 percent (1,798) of referrals, while concerns about Islamic extremism accounted for 10 percent (870).
The rate of referrals due to far-right concerns increased slightly year on year, from 19 percent to 21 percent, while the rate of referrals due to Islamic extremism fell from 13 percent to 10 percent.
However, referrals in the “ideology-free” category constituted the largest proportion; The 4,917 referrals accounted for 56 percent of the cases.
Prevent is the Government’s counter-extremism program designed to steer people away from terrorism.
The figures come as counter-terrorism officials said earlier this week there had been a significant increase in referrals since the murders at a children’s dance class in Southport in July 2024.
Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana was referred to Prevent three times, but his case was closed due to a lack of distinct ideology.
Britain’s top counter-terrorism official this week called for increased mental health services for violent individuals.
Deputy Commissioner Laurence Taylor told a briefing to journalists that “counter-terrorism police cannot take on everything” and that such individuals were outside their remit.
He noted in his investigations that there had been “a very significant increase in the number of people with mixed ideologies, no clear ideology or very complex caseloads”.
Prevent figures published on Thursday also showed that four in ten referrals were for people aged 11 to 15, making up the largest proportion with 3,192 cases, followed by 16-17 year olds with 1,178 cases.
Figures show just over a third of people taking part in the program have at least one mental health or neurodiversity problem.
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