UK Prevent anti‑terror referrals hit record high

The Home Office reported that 10,293 people were referred to the Prevent programme between 1 Oct 2024 and 30 Sep 2025, a 39 % rise on the previous year and the highest total since records began in 2015. Referrals linked to “extreme right‑wing” ideology accounted for about 20 % of the total, up roughly 42 % year‑on‑year, while those for Islamist extremism made up 8 % of referrals.

Children were a notable share of the increase: 3,655 referrals involved 11‑15‑year‑olds, 1,379 involved 16‑17‑year‑olds, and 393 referrals (4 %) concerned children aged ten or under. The surge coincided with heightened activity by far‑right figures such as Nigel Farage, Rupert Lowe and Tommy Robinson, and a rise in referrals concerning fascination with extreme violence or mass‑casualty attacks.

The data show the Prevent scheme’s expanding reach, but also raise concerns about the growing number of young people being flagged for possible radicalisation.