LONDON: The number of people referred to Britain’s counter-radicalisation programme Prevent soared to record levels last year, with many aged under 15, government data showed on Thursday.

Prevent has been a key strand of Britains security apparatus since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, with the aim of stopping people from going on to commit acts of violence.

However in recent years it has faced growing criticism with some of those referred to the programme carrying out terrorism attacks or other multiple murders.

According to the latest figures from October 2024 to September 2025, 9,957 individuals were referred to Prevent, up by 37pc from the previous year. The total number of referrals, which includes individuals referred more than once, rose to 10,293, an increase of 39pc. Both measures are the highest figures recorded in a single year in data going back to 2015.

Those in the 11-15 age bracket accounted for 36pc of referrals, the highest proportion. Of the reasons for referrals, more than 50pc fell into categories where no specific ideology was identified. Of the rest, 20pc related to extreme right-wing concerns with 8pc of referrals associated with Islamist extremism.

In July last year, a review of Prevent concluded that the scheme needed to adapt to prevent mistakes which led to a lack of action to address concerns raised about those such as teenager Axel Rudakubana, who murdered three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport in 2024.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2026