Far-right extremists outnumber Islamists in anti-terror programme referrals, data shows | UK security and counter-terrorism

Annual figures show that more suspected right-wing extremists were referred to the government’s counter-terrorism programme, Prevent, last year than suspected Islamic extremists.

In total, 8,778 referrals were made due to suspicion of extreme radicalization by March 2025; This was 27% more than the previous year and the highest number of referrals in a single year since records began 10 years ago.

Of the 8,769 referrals where the type of concern was specified, 21%, or 1,798 cases, were due to “right-wing extremist concerns”; 10%, or 870, were referrals linked to Islamist ideology; and 56%, or 4,917, were individuals judged to have no particular ideology.

Five percent (469) of the referrals were due to concerns about “an interest in extreme violence or mass-casualty attacks (in the absence of another ideology).” This category saw a huge increase in referrals in the last quarter from January to March 2025, increasing by 240% compared to the previous quarter.

Figures from the government’s program to divert people from terrorism in England and Wales were published on Thursday, shortly after counter-terrorism officials said there had been a significant increase in referrals since the Southport murders at a children’s dance class in July 2024.

Home Office figures showed just over a third of referrals in 2024-25 recorded at least one mental health or neurodiversity condition.

Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) was the most common condition, recorded in 14% of referrals.

An inquest into the Southport attack in October, in which three children were killed, heard there had since been a sharp increase in referrals to Prevent with “concerns about violent obsessions”.

The attacker, Axel Rudakubana, had been referred to Prevent three times but the investigation heard he did not meet the threshold for further intervention because there was no evidence he held a fixed ideology.

Following preliminary screening and assessment, referrals deemed to be at risk of radicalization may be transferred to a multi-agency “Channel panel.”

These panels, chaired by local officials, determine the extent of a person’s susceptibility to radicalization and whether a specific support package to counter the risk is necessary and proportionate.

Of the referrals made to Prevent through March 2025, 1,727 were discussed in the Channel panel and 1,472 were accepted as Channel cases.
39% of adopted cases are people between the ages of 11 and 15.