Record referrals to Prevent anti-terror programme
📈 Record Rise in Prevent Referrals Amid Concern Over 'No Identified Ideology' Cases
An unprecedented number of referrals were made to the government's anti-terrorism initiative, Prevent, in the year up to March 2025, according to recent figures.
A total of 8,778 referrals were generated, marking a 27% increase from 6,922 the previous year.
Focus on Ideology and Violent Fixation
The overwhelming majority of referrals—56%—were aimed at individuals where "no identified ideology" was raised as the primary concern.
However, an inquiry into the murder of three children in Southport found a dramatic rise in Prevent referrals where there were existing "concerns of violent fixation" since the attack in July 2024.
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The Rudakubana Case: Axel Rudakubana, the perpetrator of the killings, had been referred to Prevent three times. However, the subsequent inquiry found that he did not meet the criteria for further intervention because there was no evidence of a predetermined ideology.
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Prevent's CEO Michael Stewart resigned in March following an urgent investigation that revealed Rudakubana's case had been "prematurely" dismissed.
Ideological Breakdown and Age Groups
The second and third most common concerns for referrals, following the trend of the previous year, were:
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Right-wing ideology at 21%.
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Islamist extremism at 10%.
The most recent results highlight significant concern over the age of individuals being referred:
| Age Group | Percentage of Total Referrals (Age Known) | Notes |
| 11-15 | 36% | Largest percentage of all age groups. |
| 16-17 | 13% | |
| Under 10 | 4% | This accounts for 345 cases. |
Neurodiversity and Mental Health
The results also showed that around a quarter of referrals involved individuals who had at least one mental illness or were neurodiverse.
Following the news of the Rudakubana case, Lord David Anderson KC, the independent Prevent commissioner, said he had received reports from around the country. He also cited his report, "Adolescence," which was released in March 2025, as a potential source for the rise in referrals.
Prevent is a vital part of the UK's counter-terrorism policy, placing a legal obligation on public bodies, including schools and the police, to identify individuals who may be vulnerable to turning to extremism.
